UN agency urges immediate safe access for humanitarian aid amid growing chaos and hunger in the Palestinian enclave.
The World Food Programme (WFP) reported Wednesday that two people were killed and several others injured after “hordes of hungry people” stormed a UN warehouse in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, searching for food.
“The WFP has consistently warned of the alarming and deteriorating conditions on the ground and the risks of limiting humanitarian aid to desperately hungry people,” the agency said in a statement.
It called for an urgent increase in supply deliveries. “The WFP urgently calls for safe and unhindered humanitarian access to allow the orderly distribution of food across Gaza immediately,” it added.
The incident comes after the UN confirmed that at least one person was killed and about 50 injured on Tuesday when Israeli troops opened fire on a crowd during an aid distribution run by a foundation backed by Israel and the U.S. in Rafah, southern Gaza.
On Wednesday, Israel clashed again with the UN system—this time over the humanitarian aid structure in Gaza, as the Israeli government pushes to impose the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a little-known U.S.-based entity, as the sole aid channel, sidelining the UN.
“The privatization of humanitarian aid and using aid as a weapon is a very dangerous precedent. Not only in Gaza but in other conflicts,” warned Sigrid Kaag, the UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, addressing the Security Council during a session on Palestine.
UN aid has trickled into Gaza over the past two weeks under severe Israeli restrictions. Out of 900 trucks requested by the UN, only 500 cleared all procedures—including repeated unloading and reloading onto different trucks—and entered Gaza, with just 200 ultimately reaching Palestinian recipients.
Before the war, Gaza received an average of 600 trucks daily from both UN and private sectors. The figure of 200 over two weeks falls drastically short of meeting the food, medicine, medical supplies, and hygiene needs of Gaza’s two million residents, who are now experiencing unprecedented levels of hunger.
Meanwhile, Israel has fast-tracked an alternative aid system through GHF, a private U.S. foundation promoted by contractors with experience in conflict zones, aiming to distribute aid according to Israeli—not UN—criteria. Israel’s main argument is to prevent aid from falling into Hamas’s hands.
On its first day operating in Gaza, GHF’s food distribution descended into chaos and panic, with gunfire and harrowing scenes the UN described as “heartbreaking.”
Nevertheless, Israel defended the system at the UN on Wednesday and escalated its stance. In a sharply worded speech, Israeli ambassador Danny Danon accused the UN of trying to sabotage the GHF mechanism: “They are using threats, intimidation, and reprisals against NGOs that decided to participate in the new humanitarian mechanism. The UN has once again chosen the wrong side: not only do they refuse to condemn Hamas, they are actively joining them to block this aid.”
Keep Independent Journalism Alive
In a world flooded with noise, independent journalism is more vital than ever. We work hard to bring you clear, accurate, and unbiased international news — free from corporate or political influence.If you believe in the power of honest reporting, please consider making a donation. Every contribution, big or small, helps us stay independent and keep the world informed.
Support us via PayPalYour support makes a difference.
