The United Nations has expressed grave concern following an incident in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, where a group of armed individuals raided and looted warehouses at a field hospital in Deir al-Balah. This raid resulted in the theft of large quantities of medical supplies, equipment, medicines, and nutritional supplements that were intended for malnourished children, underscoring the deepening humanitarian crisis in the region.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, confirmed that the looted aid had arrived in Gaza just a day before the raid. As conditions continue to worsen amidst ongoing violence, Dujarric noted an increase in looting incidents — a troubling sign of the breakdown of public order and safety.
Dujarric emphasized that the nature of this raid differs significantly from previous looting events that occurred earlier in the week. He characterized the Friday incident as a coordinated effort involving armed men, as opposed to the desperate actions of civilians who had looted a UN World Food Program warehouse two days prior due to starvation.
In a broader context, since the blockade imposed on Gaza on March 2, Israel has begun to permit limited amounts of humanitarian aid into the territory. However, the UN has warned that the scant resources allowed in so far represent merely a “drop in the ocean” compared to the vast humanitarian needs following the blockade. The UN humanitarian agency highlighted that the entire population remains at risk of famine.
The ongoing military offensive by Israel in Gaza has resulted in catastrophic devastation. As reported by Gaza’s health ministry, which the UN deems reliable, over 54,321 people have lost their lives, predominantly civilians. The current military actions have decimated infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and residential areas.
The latest escalation began in response to a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which claimed the lives of 1,218 individuals, also largely civilians. In the wake of this turmoil, only five truckloads of humanitarian cargo managed to cross from the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, while an additional 60 trucks were forced to return due to the intense hostilities in the vicinity. Dujarric rejected allegations from the Israeli government that the UN had failed to collect available aid, stressing that the route had become unsafe due to the presence of armed groups.
Unfortunately, the medical supplies that did make it through were nearly all lost in the recent looting incident, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by those in Gaza as the region grapples with a worsening humanitarian crisis amid ongoing conflict.
