UN agencies: Lack of fuel has reached critical levels in Gaza, and its precursor is casting an inability to the population

This came in a joint statement issued today, Saturday, the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Coordination, the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Office for Projects Services, the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the World Food Program, and the World Health Organization.

The UN agencies said in its statement that fuel supplies are necessary to move the fleet of basic commodities across the sector, and to operate a network of bakeries that produce fresh bread for the affected population, warning that without fuel, these vital resources will disappear for 2.1 million people.

The agencies warned that when the fuel runs out, it throws a new burden that is unbearable on residents who swung on the edge of hunger.

She added that without enough fuel, the United Nations agencies that respond to this crisis are likely to have to stop their operations completely, which directly affects all the basic services in Gaza. This means lack of health services, lack of clean water, and the inability to deliver aid.

A threat to human efforts

UN agencies also warned that without enough fuel, Gaza faces a collapse in humanitarian efforts, noting that hospitals are already suspended, birth units and newborns and intensive care are disrupted, and ambulances cannot move, and the roads and means of transportation will remain closed, which surrounds the needy, and the communications will stop, which hinders the coordination of life saving efforts and isolates families from important information and from each other.

She added that without fuel, societal bakeries and kitchens will not be able to work, and water and sanitation production systems will stop, leaving families without safe drinking water, while solid waste and wastewater accumulate in the streets.

The agencies said that these conditions are exposed to families to the spread of fatal diseases and pushing the most vulnerable groups in Gaza to death. The UN agencies stated that for the first time in 130 days, a small amount of fuel entered Gaza this week, adding that this is a welcome development, but it is a small part of what is required daily to preserve daily life and biological relief operations.

She explained that the United Nations agencies and partners in the humanitarian field cannot exaggerate the extent of the urgency of this moment, as fuel must be allowed to enter Gaza in sufficient quantities and continuously to support life saving operations.