In a recent statement, the United Nations (UN) has expressed great concern over the increasingly deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip. The UN is warning of a potential collapse in civil order arising from recent unrest, as thousands of people are taking basic food items from several strategically placed storage warehouses located in the impoverished area.
Reports from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) suggest that since April 2021, more than 13,000 people have taken an estimated 93,000 tons of wheat, maize, rice, and other foodstuffs from 10 warehouses across the strip. The pallets were originally intended for distribution by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), although many of the affected people have claimed that the amounts distributed in recent months have not been sufficient to meet their needs.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has added that this recent seizure of food could be detrimental to farmers in Gaza if the food is not redistributed immediately. On top of this, some have expressed that the UN’s limited access due to the ongoing violence and restrictions is exacerbating the lack of resources available for the population.
This issue amplifies the desperate situation faced by those in Gaza. The UN has warned of serious health consequences and is calling on the international community to help alleviate the current crisis.
The UN has also drawn attention to the frequent airstrikes and signals of imminent conflict which makes responding to aid requests more difficult in order to ensure the security of UN staff and contractors in the Gaza Strip.
The most effective way to bring an end to this crisis is for all parties involved to work together and devise a lasting solution. Moreover, the international community needs to redouble efforts to help alleviate the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ensure that resources reach those that need them most.