UNRWA says food distribution in Rafah suspended, citing insecurity
21 May 2024 | News | Israel War on Gaza| Source-Credit: Al Jazeera World
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees also cited a lack of supplies as Israel continues closure of border crossings.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says that food distribution in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah has been suspended due to a lack of supplies and insecurity in the densely populated city.
UNRWA said in a statement on X on Tuesday that only seven of its 24 health centres were operational and that it had not received any medical supplies in the past 10 days due to “closures/disruptions” at the Rafah and the Karem Abu Salem – known in Israel as Kerem Shalom – crossings into Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in the besieged territory has worsened since Israel seized and closed the Palestinian side of the Rafah land crossing with Egypt earlier this month.
The vital crossing, which had served as a major artery for life-saving aid and an entry and exit point for humanitarian workers, has been closed since May 7.
🔷 Food distributions in Rafah are currently suspended due to lack of supplies and insecurity.
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) May 21, 2024
🔷 Only 7 out of 24 UNRWA health centres are operational. In the last ten days they have not received any medical supplies due to Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossing closures/disruptions.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Al Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah, said the halt in distribution would have “a catastrophic impact on Palestinians not only in Rafah, but … across the Gaza Strip”.
“We’re talking about more than two weeks with nothing entering the Gaza Strip,” she said, referring to the period since Israeli forces closed the Rafah crossing.
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