Humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip are on the verge of total collapse after two months of aid blockade by Israel, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Friday.
In a statement, the ICRC emphasized that without the immediate resumption of aid deliveries, it will be unable to provide essential food, medical supplies, and life-saving resources needed to sustain its operations in the enclave.
The ICRC further noted that its current food supplies in Gaza will only last for a few more weeks. The organization's field hospital is also running critically low on food and medical supplies.
The closure of water pipelines and destruction of sewage trucks have significantly increased the risk of waterborne diseases, it said, stressing that if immediate actions are not taken, Gaza will descend into further chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on Friday that the ongoing Israeli blockade is worsening the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, particularly affecting the Palestinian civilians.
In a press statement marking two months since the imposition of the blockade, UNRWA said the Israeli restrictions have led to a severe deterioration in the enclave's living conditions, as essential supplies of food, medicine, and humanitarian aid remain blocked.
Israel halted the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza on March 2 following the expiration of the first phase of a January ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The second phase has yet to be implemented due to a lack of consensus between the parties.
On March 18, Israel resumed its military operations in the enclave.
Also on Friday, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international non-governmental organization, reported that its aid ship bound for Gaza was attacked by drones just outside Maltese territorial waters.
The strike caused a fire and significant damage to the hull, the organization said.
It claimed that the strike deliberately targeted the ship's generator, leaving the crew without power and putting the vessel at risk of sinking.
It urged Israel to respond to its violations of international law, including blockage and bombing of civilian vessel in international waters.
Humanitarian efforts in Gaza on verge of collapse due to Israeli blockage: ICRC
Humanitarian efforts in Gaza on verge of collapse due to Israeli blockage: ICRC
