More evacuation orders force people to move again. Gaza: UN forced to cut food aid due to evacuation orders Humanitarian aid
The situation in the war-torn Gaza Strip remains dire, with people forced to move again due to evacuation orders. Fighting and continuous displacement have hampered humanitarian operations, with the UN having to close more than 20 food distribution points and relocate kitchens and bakeries.
Mass evacuations
This was reported by the UN press service, citing colleagues from the World Food Programme (WFP). It was also reported that the number of open checkpoints does not allow the necessary volume of aid to be delivered to Gaza.
The escalation of hostilities also led to two warehouses becoming unusable and cut off from the main route for delivering humanitarian supplies.
Due to the mass evacuation in Khan Yunis, the WFP is forced to reduce the amount of aid it provides. Now each family can receive no more than one ration.
Despite the difficulties
In Gaza, only 12 of 18 bakeries are operating: four in Gaza City, two in northern Gaza and six in Deir al-Balah. Some of them have only enough fuel to last for the next few days.
“Despite these difficulties, last month alone, the World Food Programme was able to provide almost 1.2 million people with food, wheat flour or hot meals,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
He also warned of the consequences of an explosion at the Rafah reservoir, which held about 3,000 cubic meters of water. The incident, experts say, has left residents of the entire area without clean water, and they are forced to use unsafe water.
Support for Palestinian youth
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA) has launched a programme to educate young people in Gaza. UNRWA aims to help hundreds of thousands of children who are deprived of the opportunity to attend school survive the current crisis. Minors will be provided with psychosocial support, focusing on art, music and sports. Projects to raise awareness of the risks posed by unexploded ordnance are also envisaged.
The second phase of the programme will include informal learning activities with lessons in reading, writing and mathematics. UNRWA plans to provide formal education to children in Gaza as soon as the situation allows. To achieve this, it is necessary to establish a ceasefire, the agency said in a statement.