Edward Shaker, emergency director at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), explained the slow pace of aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip, through the Rafah crossing, which separates it from Egypt.
Shaker, from Al-Arish in the Egyptian North Sinai Governorate, said in response to a question by a Sky News Arabia correspondent, “There is indeed a problem due to the procedures for verifying truck loads by the Israeli authorities.”
The trucks head from the Rafah crossing to the Al-Awja crossing, where they are subjected to Israeli inspection there, before returning to the Rafah crossing again and from there into the Gaza Strip.
Shaker continued: “The Israeli authorities are ensuring the quality of relief materials and the destination of the trucks.”
The war costs Israel’s economy daily losses of about $264 million
The UNICEF official added: “There is a scarcity of water in Gaza, and we appeal for the entry of sufficient quantities of water for drinking, personal hygiene, and environmental sanitation, and we warn of the spread of environmental pollution.” He also expressed fears of “the spread of epidemics due to water shortages.”
He also said: “Yesterday (Tuesday) we brought in 8 trucks containing quantities of water, and there are needs, including mental health needs. We also need to provide psychological care to children, who constitute 40 percent of the victims of the war in Gaza over the last two weeks, in addition to those who were injured.” With disabilities and those who lost their fathers and mothers.”
Shaker continued, “There are two thousand children among those killed in the Israeli bombing, which is a large number that represents a humanitarian issue for the United Nations. Therefore, we appeal for a ceasefire in order to provide humanitarian relief to the largest number of residents of the Gaza Strip.”
On the other hand, Shaker appealed for fuel to be brought into Gaza’s hospitals.
In the same context, Director of Health Emergencies at the World Health Organization, Mike Ryan, said that there are 12 hospitals in Gaza out of service out of 35 hospitals, and 60 percent of the health centers in the Strip have been demolished.
He explained: “There are only 7 hospitals, and 5 trucks of humanitarian and medical aid have already arrived.”
Ryan added: “Every time the Israeli authorities order the evacuation of hospitals, we know that at least two thousand patients will be deprived of health service, in addition to thousands of refugees who are taking shelter in hospitals.”
He continued: “Hospitals in northern Gaza are suffering from a scarcity of water and fuel. There is also a scarcity of insulin, anesthetics, and pregnancy and childbirth medications, which threatens pregnant women. We have between 120 and 200 newborns every day in Gaza.”
2023-10-25 13:04:22
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