Latest news with #Dujarric
Leaders
3 hours ago
- Health
- Leaders
UN Decries Organized Looting of Gaza Medical Aid
The United Nations strongly condemned a group of 'armed individuals' for raiding warehouses in Gaza and stealing medical supplies. This incident occurred on Friday, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. The looted supplies included essential medical equipment, medicines, and nutritional supplements intended for malnourished children. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, reported that the armed group stormed warehouses at a field hospital in Deir al-Balah. He noted that the stolen aid had arrived in Gaza just a day earlier, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Dujarric stated, 'As conditions on the ground further deteriorate, looting incidents continue to be reported.' Dujarric highlighted a significant difference between this organized looting and a previous incident involving desperate Palestinians. He explained that the earlier looting of a UN World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse involved individuals seeking food aid. In contrast, he described Friday's event as a 'much more organized operation with armed men.' Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Since the beginning of last week, Israel has allowed a limited amount of aid into Gaza after imposing a total blockade on 2 March. However, the UN warned that the aid provided so far represents 'a drop in the ocean' compared to the overwhelming needs in Gaza. The humanitarian agency stated that '100% of the population is at risk of famine.' Gaza has suffered immensely due to Israel's military offensive, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 54,321 people, primarily civilians. The ongoing conflict has devastated infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and essential services. Dujarric reported that only five truckloads of aid managed to reach Gaza on Thursday, while 60 trucks had to turn back due to intense fighting. Rejection of Israeli Allegations Dujarric rejected Israeli claims that the UN failed to collect available aid, explaining that it was unsafe to use the road designated by Israel's military for aid organizations. He emphasized the presence of 'a lot of armed gangs' operating in the area, making it dangerous for humanitarian efforts. The five trucks that successfully delivered supplies on Thursday carried medical aid for the Deir al-Balah field hospital. Tragically, most of these supplies were looted shortly after their arrival. Dujarric expressed deep sadness over the incident, stating, 'This is very sad and tragic.' Short link : Post Views: 21
Leaders
11 hours ago
- General
- Leaders
UN Warns of Catastrophic Conditions in Gaza
The UN has warned that the catastrophic situation in Gaza is 'the worst' since the eruption of the war between Hamas and Israel. Moreover, the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA) on Friday labeled Gaza as the 'hungriest place on Earth.' The warnings came as Israel allowed the delivery of limited aid supplies to the enclave's population under mounting global pressure. Catastrophic Situation On Friday, the UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said that the situation in Gaza had reached a catastrophic level despite limited aid deliveries, according to Reuters. Speaking to reporters in New York, Dujarric said that aid deliveries so far have had 'very, very little impact.' He also warned that 'the catastrophic situation in Gaza is the worst since the war began.' Israeli Restrictions The UN said that due to Israeli restrictions, it has only managed to transport around 200 aid trucks into Gaza over the past 12 days. It added that some of the trucks, as well as a World Food Program (WFP) warehouse, have been looted by hungry people. On Wednesday, hungry people stormed a WFP warehouse in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza. The incident left two people dead. Furthermore, officials at the UN slammed limitations which Israel imposes on the kind of aid they can provide. In the light of this, the UN humanitarian affairs spokesperson, Eri Kaneko, said: 'Israeli authorities have not allowed us to bring in a single ready-to-eat meal. The only food permitted has been flour for bakeries. Even if allowed in unlimited quantities, which it hasn't been, it wouldn't amount to a complete diet for anyone.' Complex Process Aid deliveries undergo a complex process to enter Gaza. After Israeli inspections, aid supplies cross to the Palestinian side of Kerem Shalom crossing, where aid workers unload and reload them on their own trucks for distribution. With regards to this, Dujarric said: 'Yesterday, we and our humanitarian partners only managed to collect five truckloads of cargo from the Palestinian side of the Kareem Shalom crossing. The other 60 trucks had to return to the crossing due to intense hostilities in the area.' Gaza Humanitarian Foundation On March 2, 2025, Israel imposed a total blockade on aid entry into Gaza to ramp up pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages. Under growing international pressure, Israel in mid-May allowed limited aid delivery to resume under UN supervision. It also launched the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) – a new US-backed mechanism to distribute aid. The GHF operations involve establishing a small number of distribution hubs, where Palestinian civilians will head once a week to get one aid package per family, sufficient for 7 days. The organization cooperates with private American contractors to secure aid trucks on their way from the enclave's borders to the distribution hubs. GHF Controversy The initial phase includes four distribution hubs located in southern and central Gaza, with plans to expand across several areas within the next month. On Tuesday, at least 47 Palestinians were shot and injured at the GHF's distribution hub in southern Gaza, while trying to collect aid, according to UN human rights office (OHCHR). The GHF has faced mounting criticism from the UN and other humanitarian organizations, which refused to work with the organization amid fears that its distribution model will force the displacement of Palestinians. Moreover, the GHF head resigned, citing concerns over 'humanitarian principles,' including neutrality and independence. Hungriest Place on Earth The spokesperson of the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA), Jens Laerke, warned that the entire population of Gaza is at risk of famine. 'Gaza is the hungriest place on Earth,' he said. Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Friday, Laerke said that Gaza 'is the only defined territory in the world where the entire population is at risk of famine.' He added that 'the aid operation that we have ready to roll is being put in an operational straitjacket that makes it one of the most obstructed aid operations, not only in the world today, but in recent history.' Laerke explained the difficulties facing the UN during aid delivery to Gaza. He said that out of about 900 trucks that Israel authorized to enter through Kerem Shalom Crossing, less than 600 have been offloaded on the Palestinian side and a smaller number have been picked up for distribution due to security concerns. The OCHA spokesperson also pointed to aid looting, saying that many of the trucks were 'swarmed by desperate people.' However, Laerke said he does not blame the people because 'it's a survival reaction by desperate people who want to feed their families.' Short link : Post Views: 5
France 24
a day ago
- Health
- France 24
UN condemns 'armed individuals' for looting medical supplies in Gaza
The group "stormed the warehouses at a field hospital in Deir al-Balah, looting large quantities of medical equipment, supplies, medicines, nutritional supplements that was intended for malnourished children," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The stolen aid had been brought into war-ravaged Gaza just a day earlier, he said. "As conditions on the ground further deteriorate and public order and safety breaks down, looting incidents continue to be reported," he said. But Dujarric highlighted the difference between Friday's event and the looting two days earlier of a UN World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse by "starving" Palestinians, desperate for aid. "This appeared to be much more organized and much different from the looting we'd seen... in the past days," he said. "This was an organized operation with armed men." Since the beginning of last week, Israel has begun to allow a trickle of aid into the Palestinian territory, after a total blockade imposed on March 2. The UN has warned that the aid allowed through so far was "a drop in the ocean" of the towering needs in Gaza, after the blockade created dramatic shortages of food and medicine. The UN humanitarian agency warned Friday that "100 percent of the population (are) at risk of famine." Gaza has been decimated by Israel's punishing military offensive on the territory, which has killed at least 54,321 people, mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures the UN considers reliable. It has also reduced much of the territory to rubble, destroying hospitals, schools, residential areas and basic road and sewage infrastructure. Israel launched its offensive in response to an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Only five trucks On Thursday, "we and our humanitarian partners only managed to collect five truckloads of cargo from the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing," Dujarric said. "Another 60 trucks had to return to the crossing due to intense hostilities in the area." He rejected Israeli allegations that the UN was not collecting available aid. "It was no longer safe to use that road," which Israel's military had asked aid organizations to use, he said, stressing that there are "a lot of armed gangs" operating there. The five trucks that did make it through on Thursday were carrying medical supplies for the Deir al-Balah field hospital.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
UN condemns 'armed individuals' for looting medical supplies in Gaza
The United Nations condemned Friday a group of "armed individuals" for raiding warehouses in the Palestinian territory of Gaza and looting large amounts of medical supplies. The group "stormed the warehouses at a field hospital in Deir al-Balah, looting large quantities of medical equipment, supplies, medicines, nutritional supplements that was intended for malnourished children," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The stolen aid had been brought into war-ravaged Gaza just a day earlier, he said. "As conditions on the ground further deteriorate and public order and safety breaks down, looting incidents continue to be reported," he said. But Dujarric highlighted the difference between Friday's event and the looting two days earlier of a UN World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse by "starving" Palestinians, desperate for aid. "This appeared to be much more organized and much different from the looting we'd seen... in the past days," he said. "This was an organized operation with armed men." Since the beginning of last week, Israel has begun to allow a trickle of aid into the Palestinian territory, after a total blockade imposed on March 2. The UN has warned that the aid allowed through so far was "a drop in the ocean" of the towering needs in Gaza, after the blockade created dramatic shortages of food and medicine. The UN humanitarian agency warned Friday that "100 percent of the population (are) at risk of famine." Gaza has been decimated by Israel's punishing military offensive on the territory, which has killed at least 54,321 people, mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures the UN considers reliable. It has also reduced much of the territory to rubble, destroying hospitals, schools, residential areas and basic road and sewage infrastructure. Israel launched its offensive in response to an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. - Only five trucks - On Thursday, "we and our humanitarian partners only managed to collect five truckloads of cargo from the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing," Dujarric said. "Another 60 trucks had to return to the crossing due to intense hostilities in the area." He rejected Israeli allegations that the UN was not collecting available aid. "It was no longer safe to use that road," which Israel's military had asked aid organizations to use, he said, stressing that there are "a lot of armed gangs" operating there. The five trucks that did make it through on Thursday were carrying medical supplies for the Deir al-Balah field hospital. And most of those supplies "were looted today, very sadly and tragically," Dujarric said. abd/nl/aha
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Israel And UN Clash Over Aid To Gaza
United Nations: Israel accused the United Nations Wednesday of seeking to "block" Gaza aid distribution, as the global body said it was doing its utmost to gather the limited assistance greenlighted by Israel's authorities. The humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Israel has imposed a two-month aid blockade, is dire, with food security experts saying starvation is looming for one in five people. "While the UN spreads panic and makes declarations detached from reality, the state of Israel is steadily facilitating the entry of aid into Gaza," Israel's United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon told the Security Council. He said the assistance was entering by trucks -- under limited authorization by Israel at the Kerem Shalom crossing since last week following the blockade -- and via a "new distribution mechanism developed in coordination with the US and key international partners." Danon was referring to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private, US-backed aid group that has established its own distribution system, one the United Nations considers contrary to its humanitarian principles. A chaotic distribution of aid at a GHF center Tuesday left 47 people wounded. Israel's ambassador blamed Hamas for the tumult, saying the Palestinian group set up roadblocks and checkpoints to block access to the distribution center. He accused the UN of "trying to block" the aid. The United Nations "is using threats, intimidation and retaliation against NGOs that choose to participate in the new humanitarian mechanism," Danon added. - 'Will not participate' - Danon specifically accused the United Nations of having removed these nongovernmental organizations from a database listing groups working in Gaza, an accusation rejected by the UN. "There are no differences between the current list and the one from before the launch of the GHF," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told AFP. But the UN reiterated its opposition to coordinating with GHF. "We will not participate in operations that do not meet our humanitarian principles," insisted Dujarric. He also said the UN was doing all it could to gather the aid arriving through Kerem Shalom. Since last week 800 truckloads were approved by Israel but fewer than 500 made it into Gaza, according to Dujarric. "We and our partners could collect just over 200 of them, limited by insecurity and restricted access," he said. "If we're not able to pick up those goods, I can tell you one thing, it is not for lack of trying." Danon had said "more than 400 trucks" full of aid were already on the Gaza side of the crossing and that Israel had provided "safe routes" for the distribution. "But the UN did not show up," the Israeli envoy said. "Put your ego aside, pick up the aid and do your job." Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed at least 54,804 people, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry there. The UN considers the figures reliable. The punishing offensive has reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble -- including hospitals, schools and other basic infrastructure -- and resulted in the displacement of almost all of its roughly two million people. Israel launched its operations in response to the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which killed 1,218 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
