63,000 tonnes of food stuck due to ongoing aid blockade in Gaza: UN

United Nations: UN humanitarians said that 63,000 metric tonnes of food await an end to the Gaza aid blockade, enough for 1.1 million people for two to three months.

A 12-day aid blockage in Gaza is severely hindering relief operations, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Xinhua news agency reported.

"This means, for example, that the World Food Programme (WFP) has not been able to transport any food supplies into Gaza due to the closure of all border crossing points for both humanitarian and commercial supplies," OCHA said. "WFP has about 63,000 metric tonnes of food destined for Gaza, stored or in transit in the region."

WFP said it has sufficient stocks to support active bakeries and community kitchens for up to a month. Additionally, WFP can provide ready-to-eat food parcels for over 500,000 people for two weeks. However, prior to the ceasefire, the organisation had reduced the quantity of these parcels to help families stretch their supplies and serve more people.

It isn't just a shortage of food. A lack of fuel affects vehicle movements across Gaza and slows first responders.

OCHA has highlighted a critical shortage of oxygen supplies and electricity generators in Gaza's hospitals, which are essential for maintaining life-saving operations. Furthermore, at least two dozen additional generators are urgently needed for health centres, as the existing ones require maintenance and spare parts.

The humanitarian office has sounded the alarm over a surge in settler violence in parts of the West Bank, resulting in injuries, property destruction, and heightened risk of displacement for vulnerable communities.

Over the past two years, OCHA has reported the displacement of over 2,000 Palestinians in the West Bank due to settler violence and access restrictions.

The Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank has entered its eighth week.

Displacement continues in the West Bank, with the humanitarian office reporting that Israeli forces raided at least 10 mosques last week, including in East Jerusalem.

"Since Monday, operations in Jenin city have intensified, with more than 500 people displaced from three neighbourhoods in the eastern part of the city, according to the municipality," OCHA said. "The UN and its partners warn that food insecurity is rising, as operations by Israeli forces, displacement, and movement restrictions limit access to food."

OCHA reported a sharp surge in demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank over the past week and a half. The number of demolitions during the first 10 days of Ramadan this year has already surpassed the total for the entire Ramadan period in 2024.

(inputs from IANS)