UN unable to collect aid at Karem Shalom crossing since June 18

Farhan Haq said the UN office was struggling to ‘address the lack of public order and safety, alongside other impediments to a meaningful humanitarian response.’

He called on Israel to ensure safe humanitarian access saying “As the occupying Power, it is incumbent upon the Israeli authorities to restore public order and safety as far as possible and facilitate safe humanitarian access so that assistance reaches civilians in need.”

Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered its first cargo through the Ashdod port for shipment to Gaza via Kerem Shalom with enough supplies to cover the health needs of 35,000 people, he said.

“While this is a welcome development, the supplies are barely a fraction of what’s needed to sustain the massive health response,” Haq reportedly said. “We need a sustained flow of aid into and across Gaza, as well as unimpeded access for humanitarian operations, efforts to be able to resupply hospitals”.

Due to security concerns, “we’re not in a position to resume our activities there at this point,” as in recent days there have been “fairly close calls involving UN personnel.”

“Earlier today, I heard a report that World Food Program personnel were carrying out activities near Kerem Shalom and there was IDF (Israeli military – PC) tank fire about 40 metres away from that position … We’re trying to see what happened there, but we take this very seriously.”

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, 37,431 Palestinians have been killed, and 85,653 wounded. Moreover, at least 11,000 people are unaccounted for, presumed dead under the rubble of their homes throughout the Strip.