Life has become ‘apocalyptic’ in southern Gaza, UN warns
Life has become “apocalyptic” in certain areas of the southern Gaza Strip, the UN was alarmed on Friday. “The exodus that we have been witnessing over the past twenty days from Rafah is an experience that is both impressive and horrible for a very large number of people”lamented Matthew Hollingworth, director for the Palestinian territories of the World Food Program (WFP).
In the South, the bakeries of this UN agency closed for lack of fuel, and from May 7, the date on which the Israeli army launched its offensive on the town of Rafah, to May 20, “not a single WFP truck used the crossings to reach Rafah from Egypt”Mr. Hollingworth added during an online press conference upon his return from a mission to the Gaza Strip.
The WFP also no longer has access to its main warehouse in the south of the territory, because it is located in an evacuated area. “We completely lost this warehouse, including stocks of 2,700 tonnes of food which were either looted or destroyed due to the fighting”he explained.
A million people fleeing bombings and fighting in Rafah have moved to Al-Mawasi, a coastal area between Rafah and Khan Younes, designated by Israel as “humanitarian zone” to accommodate the displaced. According to Matthew Hollingworth, they lack water, food, fuel, health services or space to dig latrines.
On the other hand, the situation is improving in the north of the Palestinian territory, where UN agencies warned in March that famine was imminent. Thanks to the opening of passages, around 12,000 tonnes of aid have been delivered, mainly food, since 1er may. “There has been a change regarding the availability of food”although major problems with health assistance, drinking water supply and wastewater treatment remain.