UNRWA says restrictions render Gaza aid “nearly impossible”
Senior Communications Officer of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Louise Walteridge said on June 30th that it is “nearly impossible” to deliver humanitarian aid in Gaza due to restrictions from Israeli authorities, The New Arab and agencies reported.
“With these access restrictions from the Israeli authorities, it is incredibly difficult — if not nearly impossible — for us to deliver a humanitarian response,” she told BBC World Service from central Gaza.
A UN report from June 25th had revealed that one in five Gazans suffer from acute food insecurity. While aid deliveries into the territory increased significantly during March and April, recent heightened severity in violence and subsequent restrictions have slowed that progress completely.
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“We are struggling to obtain the approval of the Israeli authorities to enter and deliver aid,” Walteridge added, “with the aim of ensuring the safety of our teams and the safety of the aid at the same time.”
Israel has repeatedly been accused of intentionally blocking aid deliveries from a variety of humanitarian organisations — especially those from UNRWA. On May 10th, UNRWA’s East Jerusalem headquarters temporarily closed due to violent Israeli protestors.
“This is an outrageous development,” UNRWA Head Philippe Lazzarini said at the time. “Once again, the lives of UN staff were at a serious risk.”
The New Arab and agencies
