UN agencies: Fuel shortage in Gaza has reached “critical levels”
WORLD, July 13 (YPA) – The United Nations warned Saturday that the fuel shortage in the Gaza Strip has reached a “critical levels”, threatening to further increase the suffering in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
“Fuel is the backbone of survival in Gaza,” Seven UN agencies said in a joint statement. “Without fuel, these lifelines will vanish for 2.1 million people.”
UN humanitarian workers stressed that fuel powers everything from hospitals and water systems to bakeries and ambulances.
Without a steady supply, “maternity, neonatal and intensive care units are failing, and ambulances can no longer move.” The fuel shortage, they said, has left Gaza’s population – already facing severe food insecurity and the constant threat of violence – on the edge of catastrophe.
They warned that “without adequate fuel, UN agencies responding to this crisis will likely be forced to stop their operations entirely,” meaning “no health services, no clean water, and no capacity to deliver aid.”
The agencies noted that for the first time in 130 days, a small quantity of fuel was allowed into Gaza this week. While welcome, the amount – just 75,000 litres over two days – is far from enough to meet the daily needs of the population and vital civilian aid operations.
They added, “Fuel must be allowed into Gaza in sufficient quantities and consistently to sustain life-saving operations.”
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