UN delivers food and supplements in Gaza after Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is delivering life-saving food aid to Gaza after Israel and Hamas have come to terms on a ceasefire and hostage release deal. The nonprofit stresses the agreement has enabled the first large-scale humanitarian in months.
The long-awaited ceasefire comes after 15 months of war, and the WPF says: “Ceasefire is a first step, but safety, security, access and law and order need to be restored for the humanitarian community to operate and provide a lifeline.”
It has crossed into Gaza to deliver at least 150 food trucks and provide transport services to partners. WPF says people will receive food parcels, wheat flour, commodities for hot meals and nutrition supplements.
Nutrition and food insecurity
The humanitarian crisis has reached a critical point in Gaza. The UN called for immediate action just two months ago as people faced imminent famine in the North.
According to the WFP, over 90% of the population in the State of Palestine faces acute levels of food insecurity. The organization can support one million people with food in the next three months. However, it needs an additional US$300 million for its operations to last until June.
People will receive food parcels, wheat flour, commodities for hot meals and nutrition supplements. The nonprofit Oxfam reported that on December 20, Israel allowed nine more UN trucks to bring food and water to a distribution point for aid in Beit Hanoun, where civilians taking refuge in schools picked it up.
The WFP claims that despite sending more than 14,000 metric tons of food into Gaza in December of last year, difficulties brought on by looting and insecurity caused the January supply to run out.
According to Oxfam, a man who was forced to evacuate with his family from the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in Gaza stated: “Adults tell the kids not to play so they do not get dizzy. One pack of biscuits is all we have for 15 grandchildren.”
Food trucks
The WFP says its trucks carry parcels of ready-to-eat meals and bags of wheat flour. They pass through the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south and the Zikim crossing in the north.
“This is a critical first step, but the needs in Gaza are immense; two million people have been in urgent need of food and other basics for far too long,” comments WFP executive director Cindy McCain.
“We need all border crossings to stay open and function efficiently, effectively and reliably. And we need humanitarian teams to be able to move freely and safely across Gaza to reach those in need.”
WFP has enough food pre-positioned along the borders and on its way to Gaza to feed over a million people for three months. WFP plans to use every border crossing point from Jordan, Israel and Egypt to get supplies into Gaza.
WFP says it wants to give immediate food assistance across Gaza while enabling bakeries to restock and eventually help resume support for local food production. Nutritional supplements were being sent to help children facing malnutrition.
It adds that when commercial supplies of food and other goods begin to flow, families will be given electronic vouchers or cash to purchase food and other necessities.
