Gaza: Search For Food Puts Lives On The Line
9 June 2025
Since the end of May, aid distribution in Gaza has been carried out by a mechanism backed by Israel and the United States bypassing UN agencies and their established partners, which has been plagued by deadly incidents and chaos.
On Monday, UN partner the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that 29 casualties arrived at its field hospital in west Rafah that morning, eight of whom had died.
Almost all had explosive trauma wounds, with two others suffering gunshot wounds.
Forced to choose
'The UN reiterates that civilians must always be protected,' said Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, speaking from Headquarters in New York.
' No person, anywhere, should be forced to choose between risking one's life and feeding one's family.'
Fuelling aid efforts
Meanwhile, fuel stocks in Gaza are dangerously low, putting further strain on critical services and humanitarian operations.
Mr. Haq said that some 260,000 litres of fuel were looted in northern Gaza over the weekend.
Prior to this, the UN had repeatedly tried to reach these stocks to retrieve them, but the Israeli authorities denied these attempts – with 14 denials since 15 May.
'Our attempts to reach fuel supplies in Rafah, in the south of Gaza, also continue to be denied,' he added.
'The UN warns that unless a solution is found in the coming days, the entire aid operation could come to a standstill.'
'Desperate, starving people'
Mr. Haq also updated on efforts to bring desperately needed humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip, where the entire population, more than two million people, faces famine conditions.
On Monday, the UN led a mission to deliver supplies that entered the enclave via the Kerem Shalom border crossing to Gaza City, which was still ongoing.
Since Israel allowed limited amounts of aid to enter on 19 May, the UN and partners have only been able to collect about 4,600 metric tonnes of wheat flour from Kerem Shalom.
'Most of it was taken by desperate, starving people before the supplies reached their destinations. In some cases, the supplies were looted by armed gangs,' he said.
Resume aid flow now
Mr. Haq emphasized that as the occupying power, Israel bears responsibility when it comes to public order and safety in Gaza.
'That should include letting in far more essential supplies, through multiple crossings and routes, to meet humanitarian needs and help reduce looting,' he said.
UN partners working on food security estimate that between 8,000 and 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat flour is required to reach all families across Gaza with at least a single bag.
He stressed that 'the sustained and unrestricted flow of aid into Gaza must resume as soon as possible.'
Dangerous routes, driver shortages and delays
He said no missions to collect supplies from Kerem Shalom took place at the weekend as Israel informed that the crossing would remain closed on Friday and Saturday.
Humanitarians also continue to face major impediments that affect their ability to conduct these operations, including unacceptably dangerous routes, a severe shortage of vetted drivers, and delays.
West Bank update
Mr. Haq also touched on the situation in the occupied West Bank.
He said operations by the Israeli forces in the north have continued over the past week, destroying roads and disrupting Palestinians' access to essential services.
The UN and partners continue to respond, including by providing water, sanitation and hygiene assistance to tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Gaza: Search For Food Puts Lives On The Line
9 June 2025 Since the end of May, aid distribution in Gaza has been carried out by a mechanism backed by Israel and the United States bypassing UN agencies and their established partners, which has been plagued by deadly incidents and chaos. On Monday, UN partner the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that 29 casualties arrived at its field hospital in west Rafah that morning, eight of whom had died. Almost all had explosive trauma wounds, with two others suffering gunshot wounds. Forced to choose 'The UN reiterates that civilians must always be protected,' said Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, speaking from Headquarters in New York. ' No person, anywhere, should be forced to choose between risking one's life and feeding one's family.' Fuelling aid efforts Meanwhile, fuel stocks in Gaza are dangerously low, putting further strain on critical services and humanitarian operations. Mr. Haq said that some 260,000 litres of fuel were looted in northern Gaza over the weekend. Prior to this, the UN had repeatedly tried to reach these stocks to retrieve them, but the Israeli authorities denied these attempts – with 14 denials since 15 May. 'Our attempts to reach fuel supplies in Rafah, in the south of Gaza, also continue to be denied,' he added. 'The UN warns that unless a solution is found in the coming days, the entire aid operation could come to a standstill.' 'Desperate, starving people' Mr. Haq also updated on efforts to bring desperately needed humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip, where the entire population, more than two million people, faces famine conditions. On Monday, the UN led a mission to deliver supplies that entered the enclave via the Kerem Shalom border crossing to Gaza City, which was still ongoing. Since Israel allowed limited amounts of aid to enter on 19 May, the UN and partners have only been able to collect about 4,600 metric tonnes of wheat flour from Kerem Shalom. 'Most of it was taken by desperate, starving people before the supplies reached their destinations. In some cases, the supplies were looted by armed gangs,' he said. Resume aid flow now Mr. Haq emphasized that as the occupying power, Israel bears responsibility when it comes to public order and safety in Gaza. 'That should include letting in far more essential supplies, through multiple crossings and routes, to meet humanitarian needs and help reduce looting,' he said. UN partners working on food security estimate that between 8,000 and 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat flour is required to reach all families across Gaza with at least a single bag. He stressed that 'the sustained and unrestricted flow of aid into Gaza must resume as soon as possible.' Dangerous routes, driver shortages and delays He said no missions to collect supplies from Kerem Shalom took place at the weekend as Israel informed that the crossing would remain closed on Friday and Saturday. Humanitarians also continue to face major impediments that affect their ability to conduct these operations, including unacceptably dangerous routes, a severe shortage of vetted drivers, and delays. West Bank update Mr. Haq also touched on the situation in the occupied West Bank. He said operations by the Israeli forces in the north have continued over the past week, destroying roads and disrupting Palestinians' access to essential services. The UN and partners continue to respond, including by providing water, sanitation and hygiene assistance to tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Stigmatised For Being Deaf: Zénabou's Story
Press Release – UN News In the Central African Republic, disability carries a deep-rooted stigma, and persons with disabilities often find themselves excluded from almost every avenue of life. Znabou, who is deaf and non-speaking, has suffered from prejudice, but a UN-backed … 7 June 2025 'I always had the painful experience of seeing the other children go to school with their rucksacks,' says 14-year-old Zénabou. 'It was tormenting because even though I was burning with a desire to find out what happened in the schools where these children went every morning, I realised very early on that it was a system that wasn't made for me because I was different.' For many children with disabilities, the doors to education have remained firmly shut, leaving them with few opportunities and little hope for the future. Yet, in the Central African Republic (CAR) today, children like Zénabou are finally receiving the adapted support and educational opportunities that they deserve thanks to a new inclusive education pilot initiative. The programme is providing essential resources like learning materials, mobility aids, and specialized classes to learn Braille and sign language; creating a network of community support for families; and integrating children with disabilities into local schools. A Door Opens Zénabou sits at the desk in her classroom, workbook in front of her, and surrounded by classmates. She smiles as she watches her teacher write something on the blackboard. It might look like an ordinary scene to someone passing by but to the fourteen-year-old and other children with disabilities like her, this is an extraordinary moment. Before she enrolled in classes, Zénabou would stay at home most of the day, helping her mom with household chores. Her hours were filled with washing dishes, cleaning clothes and fetching water for her family. 'Going to school was something I'd never hoped for,' she signs. 'The day I went to school for the first time, I suddenly realised that I wasn't the only one in this situation. Seeing more than 30 deaf people in the same place was astonishing!' Through a multi-year investment, specialised classes for deaf and visually impaired children are held in Bambari, CAR, within ordinary primary schools. There, children like Zénabou who have often never even stepped foot in school are taught to read, write and count, and learn Braille or sign language. These crucial skills unlock a world of learning for them. Before attending school, Zénabou could barely communicate with those around her. Her parents saw few opportunities for her future. Illiterate themselves, they wanted more for their daughter, but considering her disability, they had no hope. But everything changed when she was given the access, resources and support to learn. 'My daughter Zénabou is now able to assert herself as a person, despite the communication barriers caused by the fact that she is deaf,' says Zénabou's Father. 'I'm now optimistic about Zénabou's future and I know she's going to succeed!' Education Crisis in CAR The Central African Republic is one of the toughest places in the world to be a child. Conflict, displacement and instability are undermining efforts for peaceful development, putting children and adolescents at serious risk. Years of violence have contributed to the breakdown of what were already limited services. Access to healthcare, livelihood opportunities and education is very limited or non-existent in large parts of the country. The country's education system is grappling with significant challenges, particularly for children with disabilities. Prolonged conflicts have devastated the educational infrastructure, leaving a million children and adolescents out of school. This crisis disproportionately affects children with disabilities, who face compounded barriers to education due to stigma surrounding disabilities and limited access to specialized support. Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts to rebuild educational infrastructure, promote inclusive teaching practices, and combat societal stigma to ensure that all children have access to an inclusive, quality education. Inclusive education in the Central African Republic Working with organizations that represent persons with disabilities is key to ensuring their participation in decision-making, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It has also been recognized to be necessary for social change, to promote autonomy and to ensure the empowerment of persons with disabilities. This groundbreaking initiative is funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises in the United Nations It is supported by the UN children's agency UNICEF, partners like Humanity and Inclusion and national organizations, including the Centre d'Alphabétisation et de Formation en Braille pour les Aveugles en Centrafrique' and the Association Nationale des Déficients Auditifs de Centrafrique.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
World Environment Day: UN Sounds Alarm On Plastic Pollution Crisis
4 June 2025 Between 19 and 23 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems annually, and without urgent action, this figure is expected to rise by 50 per cent by 2040. Plastic pollution is contaminating every corner of the planet, threatening ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Microplastics are found in food, water and air, with the average person estimated to ingest over 50,000 plastic particles each year, and far more when inhalation is included. If the climate crisis goes unaddressed, with plastic pollution as a major driver, air pollution levels exceeding safe thresholds could rise by 50 per cent within a decade. Meanwhile, plastic pollution in marine and freshwater environments may triple by 2040. Global action day To rally momentum, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is leading the 52nd annual World Environment Day on 5 June, the world's largest platform for environmental outreach. This year's commemoration is hosted by Jeju, Republic of Korea, under the theme #BeatPlasticPollution. Since launching in 2018, the UNEP-led campaign has advocated for a just and inclusive transition away from plastic dependency. The day brings together governments, businesses, communities, and individuals in a shared mission to protect and restore the planet, while advancing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those linked to climate action and sustainable consumption. Towards a treaty A major focus of the day is the ongoing push for a global treaty to end plastic pollution. Countries are currently negotiating an international, legally binding agreement, with the next round of talks scheduled for August. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an 'ambitious, credible and just agreement' that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, reflects community needs, aligns with the SDGs and is implemented quickly and fully. UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen echoed the call, urging nations to unite behind innovative solutions and alternatives to plastic use. World Environment Day serves as a catalyst for action, driving attention toward the UN Environment Assembly later this year – where hopes are high that nations will finalise concrete steps to curb plastic pollution and address the broader climate emergency.
