The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported on Wednesday that one of its aid warehouses in the war-torn Gaza Strip was struck, resulting in numerous casualties.
Confirming the incident, UNRWA spokeswoman Juliette Touma informed AFP that a warehouse/distribution center in Rafah, located in southern Gaza, had been hit. Scores of people were injured in the attack. However, further details regarding the specifics of the incident and the number of UNRWA staff affected are yet to be determined.
Touma highlighted the critical role of the facility, which is utilized by UNRWA to distribute essential food and lifesaving items to displaced individuals in the southern region of Gaza.
The health ministry in Gaza, under the governance of Hamas, reported that four individuals lost their lives in the bombing of the warehouse. Witnesses observed victims of the incident arriving at Al-Najjar hospital in Rafah, with at least one individual identified as a UN employee.
This incident comes amidst growing concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, exacerbated by ongoing military operations conducted by Israel with the aim of dismantling Hamas, the militant group governing the territory.
The conflict escalated following an unprecedented attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in a significant loss of civilian lives, as reported by Israeli official figures compiled by AFP. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has led to a substantial number of casualties, predominantly among women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, a total of 162 UNRWA employees have lost their lives. Furthermore, Gaza has been grappling with severe food shortages, resulting in numerous deaths from malnutrition and dehydration, particularly among children, as reported by the health ministry.
Humanitarian efforts in Gaza face challenges due to cumbersome Israeli security checks on incoming aid shipments, causing delays in delivery. Additionally, some aid trucks are turned away due to the discovery of prohibited items, further hindering relief efforts.
Israeli authorities attribute bottlenecks in aid distribution to the limited number of trucks available for distribution on the Palestinian side.
