Gaza is running out of water. The situation is getting worse and worse
Despite Israel's demands, the UN did not inspect 20 trucks for potentially smuggled weapons, which entered with humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip on Saturday - reported "The New York Times".
Oct 22, 2023 | updated: 3:11 AM EDT, October 23, 2023
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, assured that the next convoys with humanitarian aid will have to be inspected. Dozens of trucks are still waiting on the Egyptian side of the border.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the UN for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, said during a peace summit in Cairo on Saturday that the United Nations hopes that a second convoy will be sent to the Gaza Strip on Sunday.
Israel's Demands
On Saturday, the first convoy of 20 trucks arrived at the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, but subsequent vehicles were halted due to demands from the Israeli side regarding the inspection of their contents.
- We are now in the midst of negotiations, perhaps tomorrow we will be able to let another convoy pass (...) from 20 to 30 trucks - said Griffiths. - It's incredibly important that there are no interruptions in aid deliveries - he added.
Dramatic situation in the Gaza Strip. Israel has set a condition
The UN claims that 100 trucks are needed daily to meet the basic needs in the Gaza Strip, which Israel has "completely blocked" in retaliation for a Hamas militant attack.
Rafah is the main entrance and exit road from the Gaza Strip, which is not controlled by Israel. Tel Aviv has stated that it will not allow aid from its territory until Hamas releases the hostages imprisoned since October 7. Israel claims that aid can be delivered through Egypt, as long as it does not end up in the hands of Hamas.
Representatives of aid organizations state that the humanitarian crisis that over 2 million residents of the Gaza Strip are struggling with is serious.
- As we know, the healthcare system is failing. The water is running out. People say they are drinking dirty water - reported Griffiths, quoted by the Reuters agency.
