Gaza: The fuel crisis in Gaza has reached a breaking point, threatening to bring all humanitarian operations to a halt and endangering the lives of everyone reliant on aid inside the enclave, UN agencies warned in a powerful joint statement on Saturday.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, UN humanitarian workers have emphasized that fuel is essential for powering hospitals, water systems, bakeries, and ambulances in Gaza. Without a steady supply, critical medical units such as maternity, neonatal, and intensive care facilities are failing, and ambulances are unable to operate. This shortage has left Gaza's population, already grappling with severe food insecurity and ongoing threats of violence, on the verge of disaster.
The agencies have expressed grave concerns that without sufficient fuel, UN operations in the region may come to a complete stop, resulting in the cessation of health services, clean water supply, and aid delivery capabilities. Recently, a small quantity of fuel was permitted entry into Gaza for the first time in 130 days. However, the 75,000 litres allowed over two days falls significantly short of the necessary daily requirements for both the population and vital aid operations.
UN Spokesperson St©phane Dujarric, speaking from UN Headquarters in New York, depicted the situation as dire and deteriorating. He highlighted the growing number of preventable deaths occurring daily in the absence of a ceasefire, with children suffering and individuals risking their lives to access the limited aid available. Dujarric expressed profound concern over ongoing Israeli restrictions on aid access, noting that while some fuel was provided to hospitals in southern Gaza, efforts to deliver it to the north were thwarted by Israeli authorities, posing a severe threat to lives.
Further complicating the situation, essential services such as water treatment, ambulance operations, and waste management are at risk of collapse due to the fuel shortage. Out of 15 humanitarian missions necessitating coordination with Israeli authorities on Thursday, only six were fully facilitated, with five being denied outright and four encountering obstacles that hindered delivery.
One mission, aimed at rescuing injured individuals trapped under rubble in Gaza City, received approval two days after the initial request, tragically arriving too late to save lives. In addition, essential items like tents and shelter materials have been blocked from entry into Gaza for over four months, leaving thousands vulnerable to the elements.
The UN agencies have urgently called for the immediate and consistent large-scale delivery of fuel and for unrestricted access to all areas of Gaza. They stressed the critical nature of the current situation, warning that without fuel, the humanitarian efforts in Gaza are at risk of complete collapse.
