2023-11-15 02:02:25
According to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), humanitarian aid for the people in the Gaza Strip could soon collapse due to a lack of fuel. The fuel depot is empty, said UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini on Wednesday. “It’s very simple. Without fuel, the humanitarian operation in Gaza will come to an end. Many more people will suffer and probably die.”
“UNRWA raised the alarm about the fuel situation three weeks ago, warning of rapidly depleting supplies and the impact on life-saving operations. Since then, we have heavily rationed the use of fuel and, in close coordination with the Israeli authorities, have resorted to existing, limited quantities stored in a depot inside the Gaza Strip. The depot is now empty,” said the UNRWA Commissioner General.
Petrol has been used as a weapon since the beginning of Israel’s war against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Lazzarini called on all parties to provide fuel and not to misuse humanitarian aid for political or military purposes. “It’s unbelievable that humanitarian organizations have to beg for fuel,” said Lazzarini.
Lazzarini made the comments following reports that Israel had approved the delivery of 24,000 liters of diesel fuel for UN trucks in the Gaza Strip. The fuel is intended only for U.N. trucks and not hospitals, a person familiar with the plans said. The USA put pressure on the UN to accept the fuel. Neither the Israeli military nor the terrorist organization Hamas commented on the report.
Meanwhile, heavy rains in the Gaza Strip also fueled concerns that the humanitarian situation would further deteriorate. “Our accommodation is not suitable to live in in winter,” said Palestinian Hiba Saied, who fled with her family to a UNRWA refugee camp in the south. She lives in a makeshift tent in a very small space with her family of 30, including sons, daughters and grandchildren. “All of our clothing was soaked by rainwater,” said al-Saied, calling on the international community to help. “No one can endure such a catastrophic situation.”
On Tuesday there was the first major rainfall in the Gaza Strip since the war began on October 7th. Videos on social media showed flooded streets and people trying to rebuild collapsed tents. A significant increase in rainfall is expected in the winter months, which often led to flooding in Gaza even before the war.
“Winter means that we will suffer a lot because we also have no blankets,” says Palestinian Jenin Amed, who fled the city of Gaza to the south with her family a month ago. Her husband got completely wet during the rain but didn’t have a change of clothes. “We left our house in Gaza without money, clothes or food.”
According to the UN, almost 1.6 million of the approximately 2.2 million inhabitants of the coastal area are on the run as a result of the fighting between the Israeli military and the terrorist organization Hamas.
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