Fifteen trucks belonging to the World Food Programme (WFP) were looted in southern Gaza late last night as they were on their way to WFP-supported bakeries. The UN agency reported that these vehicles were carrying vital food supplies intended for populations in urgent need. This incident marks a significant setback in ongoing efforts to assist Gaza’s most vulnerable residents, especially after Israel recently allowed a limited influx of aid trucks into the region following an 11-week total blockade.
The WFP emphasized that Gazans are currently facing “hunger, desperation, and anxiety” regarding future food aid deliveries. They warned that this uncertainty is exacerbating the region’s escalating insecurity. “We need support from the Israeli authorities to facilitate a greater volume of food assistance into Gaza, more consistently and through safer routes, similar to the arrangements during the ceasefire,” the agency stated.
This troubling incident occurred just one day after approximately 90 trucks carrying food, nutritional supplies, medicines, and other essential items began moving from the Kerem Shalom crossing point deeper into Gaza. WFP shared footage showing workers transporting sacks of flour into a previously vacant warehouse and preparing dough for baking. Updates from the agency indicated that a few bakeries had resumed operations after receiving limited supplies overnight. However, the WFP stressed, “Bread alone is not enough for people to survive.”
WFP Deputy Country Director Vladmir Jovcev described the recent developments as “a critical first step” but underscored that the scale of assistance must be significantly increased. “More essential food is needed to mitigate the risk of famine,” he warned.
In its appeal for amplified aid, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted that the current quantities permitted into Gaza are “nowhere near sufficient” to meet the needs of its 2.1 million residents. OCHA noted that essential supplies like fresh food, hygiene products, water purification agents, and fuel for hospitals have not been allowed into the territory for over 80 days.
On Thursday, over 500 pallets of nutritional supplies-equivalent to nearly 20 truckloads-arrived at UNICEF’s warehouse in Deir al-Balah, according to OCHA. These supplies included ready-to-use therapeutic food and lipid-based nutritional supplements, which were then repackaged for distribution to several points throughout the region.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, the situation remains fluid, and further developments are anticipated. The region’s residents are holding onto hope for more substantial food assistance in the coming days to alleviate their suffering.
Original Source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2025/05/1163611
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Publish Date: 2025-05-23 17:30:00
