The evacuation order issued since Monday caused the displacement of tens of thousands of people fleeing the governorate to areas that the UN does not consider safe.
The UN maintains “serious negotiations” with Israel to reopen that crossing. (Photo: PL)
Humanitarian operations in Gaza could end in less than a day if no more fuel enters after Israel takes control of the Rafah crossing, a UN official said on Tuesday. The UN has “serious negotiations” underway with Israel to reopen that crossing.
The humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Andrea De Domenico, assured that humanitarian personnel barely have 30 thousand liters of fuel while daily needs are estimated at close to 200 thousand.
Under these circumstances, basic services such as water purification or the operation of hospitals could cease in less than a day, he warned during a briefing.
Despite Israel’s promises to bring more fuel trucks into Rafah, located on the border with Egypt, the official was pessimistic about the matter.
De Domenico confirmed that the evacuation order issued since Monday caused the displacement of tens of thousands of people fleeing the governorate to areas that the UN does not consider safe.
Despite pressure from the international community, including its closest allies, the Tel Aviv government launched a limited offensive in Rafah this Tuesday that included the bombing of some areas and the seizure of the main crossing for humanitarian aid.
Since the beginning of the week, the agency was forced to suspend most of the food distribution and stop the entry of essential fuel, confirmed the humanitarian coordinator.
This Tuesday, the spokesman for the Secretary General (António Guterres), Stéphane Dujarric, assured that the UN has “serious negotiations” underway with Israel to reopen that crossing.
The spokesperson warned of the risk that operations on the ground face while the population begins to move from that governorate located to the south of the enclave.
“Civilians in Gaza must be protected and their basic needs met, whether they move or stay. Those who leave must have enough time to do so, as well as a safe route and places to go,” he told reporters.
Many of them have been uprooted several times over the past seven months, he recalled.
