UNRWA hours away from ending work in Gaza, cites Israeli fuel blockade
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The human rights organization says that it will be suspending operations in the Strip as of Wednesday night.
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United Nations and Red Crescent workers prepare the aid for distribution to Palestinians at UNRWA warehouse in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza, Palestine on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023 (AP Photo/Hassan Eslaiah)
The UN Relief and Works Agency is expected to end all humanitarian operations in Gaza on Wednesday night if the Israeli occupation continues to prevent fuel deliveries from entering the blockaded Strip, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
"The UN Relief and Works Agency, by far the largest humanitarian provider in Gaza, warned that unless fuel is allowed in Gaza immediately, UNRWA will be forced to halt operations tonight," Dujarric said told reporters on Wednesday.
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As of Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that there are approximately 590,000 individuals who are taking refuge in 150 UNRWA facilities within Gaza.
In the same period, UNRWA verified the loss of 39 of its personnel in Gaza since October 7 and reported damage to 40 UN facilities.
In another statement, the international organization indicated that it would be compelled to halt the distribution of humanitarian assistance to individuals requiring it.
As Israelis continue to push for ethnic cleansing and genocide, Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israeli military stated that no fuel shipments would be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip.
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"Fuel won't enter Gaza as Hamas uses it for its operational needs. Hamas can return the fuel it stole from UNRWA to hospitals," Hagari was quoted as claiming by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
Furthermore, in a clear attempt to hinder and choke aid deliveries, the Israeli prime minister's office declared on Sunday that the Israeli regime would not send any humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and would also stop any unauthorized deliveries from other nations.
"Israel will not provide any humanitarian aid to Gaza and will prevent any unsupervised supply from others," the office was quoted as saying by the Haaretz newspaper.
