UN aid agency for Palestinians at risk of shutting down; WFP speaks out on food crisis

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is at risk of shutting down completely; the World Food Programme (WFP) warns of widespread famine in the Gaza Strip.

Xung đột Israel-Hamas: Cơ quan cứu trợ LHQ về người Palestine có nguy cơ dừng hoạt động; WFP lên tiếng về khủng hoảng lương thực

Two major UN agencies, UNRWA and WFP, are actively fighting the spreading humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. (Source: Picture Alliance)

On November 16, UNRWA Director Philippe Lazzarini said that the agency was at risk of completely suspending its operations due to a lack of fuel , while it was assisting more than 800,000 displaced people in the Gaza Strip. According to Mr. Lazzarini, there are currently some acts of deliberately blocking UNRWA's humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip.

UNRWA has repeatedly requested access to fuel in recent weeks, but the request has not been resolved. Mr. Lazzarini stressed that due to lack of fuel, the agency is unable to send aid trucks through the southern Gaza Strip, where many people are waiting for aid.

In another development, on the same day, WFP warned that the area is facing widespread famine, as almost the entire population is in dire need of food assistance, while only 10% of food supplies have been brought into Gaza since October 7.

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain confirmed that, in fact, food and water supplies are non-existent in the Gaza Strip. With winter approaching, shelters undercrowded and a lack of clean water, people are facing starvation. The only hope is to open another, safer humanitarian corridor to bring life-saving food into the Gaza Strip.

Source