Gaza: Humanitarian aid has fallen to all-time low, 20 aid workers killed

Source: Churches for Middle East Peace

Churches for Middle East Peace report:

Aid organizations warn that humanitarian aid entering Gaza has plummeted to the lowest level in over a year, amid Israel's renewed siege on northern Gaza and despite demands from the US government to improve the situation. Palestinians in northern Gaza have been effectively severed from all remaining lifelines. The population is facing starvation, severe shortages of clean water, and scarcity of essential supplies, all of which are driving desperation and theft of aid supplies, which in many cases occurs without intervention from Israeli forces.

The worsening security situation due to Israeli bombardment, siege, and forced displacement orders is also hindering efforts to distribute aid. The latest humanitarian snapshot, produced by 30 NGOs operating in Gaza reported that during the reporting period (10 October - 13 November) Israeli airstrikes killed at least 20 of their aid workers. Staff were killed in their homes, in displacement camps, and while delivering life-saving aid. The aid workers killed were both living in areas under forced displacement orders, such as Jabalia and Beit Lahia, but also in the Israeli-declared "humanitarian zone", emphasizing that nowhere is safe for Palestinians, even if they move to areas Israel orders them to.

Palestinian and international organizations reported that nearly all movements into and around northern Gaza were impeded, canceled or delayed by Israeli authorities. Aid organizations working in the north through Palestinian partner organizations also had to cease operations in areas of northern Gaza, including Jabalia and Beit Lahia, due to Israeli bombardment, and forced displacement.

The impacts of these restrictions and obstruction of aid delivery are severe and catastrophic, as the humanitarian situation deteriorates across all touch points. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) released an urgent alert on 8 November reporting that there is a strong likelihood that famine is already occurring in northern Gaza, and that immediate action is required within days, not weeks, to address the crisis. An average of only 37 humanitarian trucks per day entered Gaza in October, and an average of 69 per day during the first week of November. This is still well below the average of 500 per day which entered Gaza per working day before 7 October 2023, and was insufficient then to meet the needs of the population.

"Northern Gaza is facing a policy of forced starvation. The Global community must put pressure on Israel to not only facilitate the delivery of aid to the tens of thousands of civilians who are stuck there but also to stop the bombing of aid workers and aid distribution sites. We must call on our communities, churches, and governments to do more to remedy the dire situation we find ourselves in today," says Kyle Cristofalo, Senior Director of Advocacy & Government Relations of Churches for Middle East Peace.

Read the full report HERE