Gaza Strip: Israel Denies 40 Percent of Humanitarian Movements

Palestinian Healtworkers attending the victims, Nov 2024 Photo: Middle East Eye

November 21, 2024 Hour: 9:15 pm

The denials coincide with warnings from UN food security experts that there is an imminent risk of famine in northern regions of the enclave.

On Thursday, the UN said that Israeli authorities are denying entry to nearly 40 percent of humanitarian movements in Gaza, warning of the risk of acute and severe starvation for trapped civilians.

In its latest update, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that bakeries supporting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the Strip are on the verge of closing, if they have not already done so, due to a lack of flour and fuel.

The Tel Aviv Defense Forces facilitated just over 40 percent of the nearly 320 planned humanitarian movements in the coastal enclave this month, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, told reporters.

The rest were denied, obstructed or cancelled due to security and logistical problems, he said.

People in #Gaza are desperate, facing starvation, as movement restrictions by Israeli authorities – including a siege on parts of the north – cripple aid operations.

In Oct, 43% of our coordinated humanitarian movements were denied and 16% were impeded ➡️ https://t.co/Ba8jAoUSN4 pic.twitter.com/ehI3YK4ymd
— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) November 13, 2024

The denials coincide with warnings from UN food security experts that there is an imminent risk of famine in northern regions of the enclave.

The latest Integrated Classification Index report called for ‘immediate action within days, not weeks’ to prevent its spread.

Following its release, the UN called for more access after confirming that some towns in the northern portion remain without any assistance for more than 40 days.

Meanwhile in the central and southern parts of the Gaza Strip, a sharp increase in the number of households suffering from severe hunger is reported.