The United Nations has halted food distribution in Rafah due to insecurity and a shortage of supplies in the southern Gaza city, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
The Big Picture
Parts of Gaza are already experiencing famine, with the entire population of Rafah facing crisis levels of food insecurity or worse, according to a report by the UN’s World Food Program (WFP). This dire situation persists despite airdrops of humanitarian aid from the U.S. and other Western nations.
Current Situation
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) announced on social media that its distribution center and the WFP warehouse in Rafah are now inaccessible due to ongoing military operations in the eastern part of the city. Additionally, the UN reported that no aid trucks have entered the region in the past two days via the U.S. temporary floating pier.
Key Developments
Last week, the U.S. military completed the construction of a temporary pier in Gaza to facilitate the delivery of critical humanitarian aid. According to U.S. Central Command, over 569 metric tons of humanitarian assistance have been delivered through the pier for further distribution by humanitarian partners.
Broader Impact
The WFP is also running out of food for central Gaza, where many Palestinians fleeing Rafah are seeking shelter. Abeer Etefa, a WFP spokesperson, told the Associated Press that “humanitarian operations in Gaza are near collapse” and warned that without massive aid deliveries, famine-like conditions will spread.