A convoy of 109 aid trucks was violently looted after entering Gaza on November 16, leading to the loss of 98 trucks. According to a UNRWA official, it is one of the most severe incidents in the ongoing war, which has lasted over 13 months. The information was shared with Reuters on Monday.
The trucks, carrying food from UNRWA and the World Food Programme (WFP), were instructed to take an unfamiliar route from the Kerem Shalom crossing at short notice by Israeli authorities, explained Louise Wateridge, Senior Emergency Officer at UNRWA.
“This incident shows the serious challenges of getting aid into southern and central Gaza,” Wateridge said, noting that some injuries occurred during the looting.
The crisis is becoming more urgent. Wateridge warned, “Without immediate action, food shortages will worsen, putting over two million people, who rely on humanitarian aid to survive, at even greater risk.”
The WFP and COGAT, the Israeli military agency managing Palestinian civilian affairs, did not immediately comment on the matter. However, COGAT has previously stated it works to ensure sufficient aid enters Gaza and that Israel does not block humanitarian assistance.
The situation in Gaza is dire. A UN aid official noted on Friday that delivering aid to the northern areas of the enclave has become nearly impossible, marking a critical low point in the region’s humanitarian crisis.
