UNRWA to halt Gaza operations by Wednesday if fuel needs unmet
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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.
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A UNDP-provided tent camp for Palestinians displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is seen in Khan Younis on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 (AP)
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has announced that it will cease its operations in the Gaza Strip by Wednesday if essential fuel needs are not met.
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 35 of its personnel in Gaza since October 7 and reported damage to 40 UN facilities.
"[UNRWA] warning: If we do not get fuel urgently, we will be forced to halt our operations in the Gaza Strip as of tomorrow night," UNRWA wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
🛑@UNRWA warning: If we do not get fuel urgently, we will be forced to halt our operations in the📍#GazaStrip as of tomorrow night.
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 24, 2023
🆘 @UN agency says its #Gaza operation will end tomorrow 'if we don't get fuel'@JulietteTouma @BBCNews https://t.co/JfQLPwmSGb
In another statement, UNRWA 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.
Such actions represent undeniable evidence that the Israelis are undoubtfully seeking to ethnically cleanse Gaza and murder thousands of its civilians through bombing and unlawful siege.
"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.
Read more: Gaza invasion would be detrimental to Israeli capabilities: Media
This comes as the fourth batch of trucks carrying aid arrived in Gaza through the Rafah border from Egypt.
20 aid trucks crossed into Gaza on Saturday, another 17 on Sunday, a dozen more crossed yesterday, and five more today - bringing the number of aid trucks to at least 54.
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.
