Philippe Lazzarini said that Israel only allows “half the daily minimum” of fuel required for humanitarian operations in Gaza. Israel’s decision allowed in any fuel after weeks of delays and pressure
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East ( UNRWA )’s commissioner general, Philippe Lazzarini, stated on Saturday that Israel only permits “half of the daily minimum” amount of fuel required for humanitarian operations in Gaza. Following weeks of delay and pressure from the United States, Israel decided to allow in any fuel.
Israel has agreed to only allow 16, 000 gallons of fuel per day, or less than one hundredth of a gallon per resident of Gaza. The amount is “far from much,” according to Lazzarini,” to cover the needs for desalination plants, sewage pumps, hospitals, water pumps in shelters, aid trucks, ambulance drivers, bakeries, and communications networks to operate without interruption.” UNRWA stated in a bulleted list that failing to increase fuel supplies for the more than two million people living in Gaza would have serious repercussions:
Just two thirds of people’s daily needs for clean drinking water will be met.
Huge portions of Gaza will still be flooded with sewage, which will raise the risk of diseases.
A significant health risk is that 70 % of solid waste will never be removed.
We are compelled to deal with fewer aid trucks that enter Rafah every day.
Due to Israel’s decision to turn off electricity and require the use of copy generators, Gazans are in an especially dire need of fuel. However, Israel has likewise generally prevented Gaza from receiving fuel. The limitations on power and fuel imports are viewed by human rights organizations as a form of social punishment that qualifies as war crime.
Lazzarini emphasized that humanitarian organizations should never be forced to choose between competing life-saving activities. ” Community tensions in a once-close-knit society are likely to rise, making it even harder for UNRWA and various organizations to operate in an environment of extraordinary charitable crisis.”
The Jewish attack on Gaza, which it launched in response to the attack by Hamas on October 7, has resulted in the deaths of more than 11, 000 people, including over 4, 600 children. This was reported by the Gaza health ministry. This week, a senior US official reported to the New York Times that Israel began its invasion of Gaza without any plans to reduce human casualties. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East ( UNRWA )’s commissioner general, Philippe Lazzarini, stated on Saturday that Israel only permits “half of the daily minimum” amount of fuel required for humanitarian operations in Gaza. Following weeks of delay and pressure, Israel decided to allow in any fuel.
Philippe Lazzarini said that Israel only allows “half the daily minimum” of fuel required for humanitarian operations in Gaza. Israel’s decision allowed in any fuel after weeks of delays and pressure
Bashar Taleb/APA Images/Zuma. On Saturday, the commissioner-general of the UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, stated that only half of the minimum amount of fuel necessary for vital aid operations in the Gaza Strip is being let in by Israel. Israel finally consented to allow in a minimal amount of fuel after facing numerous weeks of prodding from the U.S. The sum total of 16,000 gallons of fuel every day is equal to a small fraction of a gallon per inhabitant of Gaza. Lazzarini declared that the sum is “insufficient to meet the requirements for desalination facilities, sewage pumps, medical centers, water pumps in safe havens, assistance trucks, ambulances, bakeries, and to guarantee the continual use of communication networks. The UNRWA has warned that not pumping in more fuel into Gaza will result in extreme repercussions; they gave the following points: Only two thirds of people’s daily requirements for clean drinking water will be met. Significant areas of Gaza are predicted to remain inundated with sewage, thus raising the potential for the spread of illnesses. Seventy percent of solid garbage will not be taken away, causing a grave danger to public health.
