The UN humanitarian operations in Gaza, on which the lives of two million people depend, have to be phased out due to lack of fuel. This was announced on Tuesday by the head of the UN Agency for Assistance to Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini. Recall that since October 7, the import of fuel is prohibited in the sector.
Lazzarini recalled that UNRWA had started sounding the alarm three weeks ago, warning that fuel supplies were being depleted, there was no replenishment, and vital operations were under threat. Since then, humanitarian workers have introduced extreme fuel economy measures, and also, in coordination with the Israeli authorities, began using stocks that were stored inside the Gaza Strip. But now all the vaults are empty.
“Without fuel, humanitarian operations will be stopped. Even more people are waiting for suffering and, possibly, death. It is unimaginable that humanitarian agencies have to beg for fuel supplies and work in conditions of survival,” Lazzarini said.
According to him, from the very beginning of the confrontation, fuel has been used as a weapon of war. “It is necessary to put an end to this immediately,” the head of UNRWA added. He appealed to all parties to provide humanitarian organizations with fuel and not treat aid as a bargaining chip for acquiring political and military benefits.
