Photo: Abaca Press
Humanitarian aid flowing into the Gaza Strip came under serious attack when nearly 100 aid trucks were looted on 16 November. This is one of the largest attacks on humanitarian supplies in recent months, according to dpa and Reuters.
Causes and perpetrators of the attack
Philip Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), suggested that the robberies were carried out by local gangs and family clans trying to gain control of shops south of Gaza. He also noted that the situation in Gaza has long been on the verge of disaster due to the collapse of public order, as his agency has repeatedly warned.
Impact on humanitarian aid
The robbery was a major obstacle to humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Louise Wateridge, a senior UNRWA official, noted that 98 trucks delivering humanitarian supplies were looted during the incident. However, the looting prevented humanitarian aid from reaching people in need, which only exacerbated the food crisis that already threatens the lives of more than two million people.
In its turn, the Hamas TV channel Al-Aqsa reported that more than 20 members of a gang engaged in truck looting were killed as a result of the operation by Hamas security forces.
Complicating the delivery of aid
The attack came amidst already existing difficulties in getting humanitarian aid into Gaza. Many routes for aid delivery have become impassable for security reasons. An Israeli official confirmed that his country is actively working to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but that the distribution of aid is complicated by the various challenges faced by the UN and international organisations.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic, especially after more than a year of war, which has only worsened access to essential resources. Without immediate intervention from the international community, the situation could deteriorate significantly, endangering the lives of a huge number of civilians already on the brink of survival.
