Fuel Supply In Gaza Will Run Out In Three Days, UN Agency Warns Of Risks Against Hospitals To Children

Queues for vehicles carrying humanitarian aid in Rafah. (Twitter/@RowanAdel31)

JAKARTA - The United Nations (UN) agency warned of risks that would occur as fuel shortages in Gaza urged increased humanitarian supplies.

"In three days, UNRWA will run out of fuel, this is very important for our humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip," said UN Agency of Assistance and Works Commissioner General for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini, in a statement Sunday, quoted from the UNRWA website Oct. 23.

He further warned that the impact of the absence of fuel would severely hit Gaza, as it affects hospitals to children.

"Without fuel, there will be no water, no hospitals and bakeries will work. Without fuel, aid will not reach those in dire need. Without fuel, there will be no humanitarian assistance," he said.

"The absence of fuel will increasingly choke children, women and Gazans," said Lazzarini.

Calling UNRWA the largest humanitarian actor in the Gaza Strip, Lazzarini said the absence of fuel would disappoint Gazans, while their need was increasing, calling it not to happen.

"UNRWA currently accommodates more than half a million people from nearly 1 million refugees in the Gaza Strip," he said.

"I call on all influential parties to immediately allow fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip and ensure fuel is used strictly to prevent the failure of humanitarian responses," he said.

Earlier, 20 aid trucks that managed to cross the Rafah crossing from Egypt to Gaza on Saturday delivered food, water, medicine and medical supplies but no fuel, according to Egyptian border authorities, quoted by CNN.

Although he welcomed the development, he considered it not enough because Gaza needed an increase in sustainable humanitarian assistance.

"I welcome yesterday's convoy to Gaza, the first in two weeks of a tight siege that affected 2 million people. However, this is far from sufficient. To be meaningful, Gaza needs a humanitarian supply path that is not cut off and improved," he said.

🆘 @UNRWA will run out of fuel in three daysWithout fuel, there will be no water, no functioning hospitals and bakeries. Without fuel, there will be no humanitarian assistance.No fuel will further strangle the children, women and people of 📍#Gazahttps://t.co/oXO5a2o6Dv pic.twitter.com/PeIf8o1LQF

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 22, 2023

🆘 @UNRWA will run out of fuel in three daysWithout fuel, there will be no water, no functioning hospitals and bakeries. Without fuel, there will be no humanitarian assistance.No fuel will further strangle the children, women and people of 📍#Gazahttps://t.co/oXO5a2o6Dv pic.twitter.com/PeIf8o1LQF