More than 50% of aid movements to Gaza impeded, denied by Israel: UN

HAMILTON, Canada

The UN said Friday that more than half of humanitarian aid movements to the Gaza Strip were blocked or denied by Israeli authorities in February, worsening shortages for civilians.

"Food rations have been cut by half in February, largely because there are not enough supplies in Gaza. Around two-thirds of the aid trucks coming through the Egypt corridor were sent back this month," said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric at a news conference.

Dujarric reported that "inside Gaza, coordinated humanitarian movements with the Israeli authorities also continue."

"Out of ten missions planned yesterday, four were facilitated – including the collection of fuel, tents and baby kits from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing," he said, noting that "Five missions were impeded, and a request to assess a water, sanitation and hygiene facility in North Gaza was denied outright."

Highlighting the growing health needs, he said: "Our partners say they continue to see more people living with disabilities. Many have received amputations, while others have suffered spinal cord and brain trauma. Hundreds of people have received traumatic injuries since the ceasefire."

"Under an already fragile health system, these patients face challenges, especially since the entry of prosthetics and other essential devices remains heavily restricted," he said.

Asked why trucks were turned back at the Egypt corridor, Dujarric said: "They were not cleared by the Israeli authorities, as far as I'm aware. There's an issue of them considering some items that we feel critical not being allowed into Gaza."

"There's some heavy equipment, things to clear rubble with, prosthetics, all sorts of things. And we just don't have the flow of aid that we need," he added.

Dujarric further stressed that the UN is not "getting everything" it needs at the volume that it needs.

Since the agreement took effect, Israel has killed about 618 Palestinians and wounded 1,663 others in the daily ceasefire violations involving strikes and gunfire.

The ceasefire followed the genocidal war launched by Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, that lasted two years and killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and wounded over 171,000 others, most of them women and children, and destroyed about 90% of civilian infrastructure in the territory.