The United Nations warned on Sunday that "civil order" was beginning to collapse in Gaza after thousands of people ransacked its food warehouses in the war-torn Palestinian territory.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said wheat, flour and other supplies were looted from several warehouses. "This is a worrying sign that civil order is beginning to break down after three weeks of war and a tight siege," said UNRWA Gaza chief Thomas White. One of the warehouses in the central city of Deir al-Balah was used to store supplies from humanitarian convoys that began crossing into Gaza from Egypt on October 21. "Thousands of people stormed several UNRWA warehouses and distribution centers in the central and southern areas of the Gaza Strip, taking wheat flour and other basic survival goods such as hygiene supplies," UNRWA said.
Israel also imposed a complete blockade on normal food, water, medicine and fuel supplies to Gaza, with the first humanitarian aid convoy entering only two weeks later. Since then, UNRWA says 84 aid trucks have crossed into Gaza, but aid agencies say the number is far too low. Before the conflict, UN figures showed an average of 500 trucks a day entering Gaza. "Supplies in the market are running out, while the humanitarian aid coming into the Gaza Strip by trucks from Egypt is insufficient," White said. "The needs of the communities are enormous, even just for basic survival, while the aid we receive is scarce and inconsistent," the UN official said. /BGNES