Israel-Palestine: Lack of fuel in Gaza now critical says WFP

Aid convoys enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing border. © UNICEF - Eyad El Baba

23 October 2023 - The entry of humanitarian convoys into Gaza is a big step forward but the situation there remains catastrophic, a Spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Monday.

In an interview with UN News, the agency’s Alia Zaki emphasized that shortage of fuel is a major concern. Without it, hospitals and bakeries could simply grind to a halt.

While UN agencies and aid workers are working flat out to get aid in, they are confronted with the need to reduce rations and prioritize the distribution of food and other essentials.

Jerusalem-based Ms. Zaki also stressed the urgent necessity for a humanitarian ceasefire, which would allow aid workers to deliver supplies in safety for both themselves and those in need.

UN News: What are your priorities for distributing aid inside Gaza amid a scarcity of supplies?

Ms. Zaki: This is one of the main challenges that we are facing at the moment because the needs of the people, the number of people in need are much, much higher than the capacity and the resources allow for us.

But really, it is limited and it is painful how limited it is. In terms of prioritization, to try and make sure that we're reaching as many people as possible, we have to reduce the ration of food that we were providing per person.

What we are also doing is we are aware that we cannot reach all the shelters every single day. And so based on the capacity of the bakeries and based on the capacity of the distribution on the ground, we prioritize shelters that had not received food the previous day.

UN News: Talking about our WFP colleagues on the ground, what are the challenges facing them now moving around Gaza, and also, do you have any information about if there are any casualties?

Ms. Zaki: WFP staff have had to evacuate. Some of them had to evacuate their homes when the evacuation order came from for the movement from the north to the south. Some of them are currently residing in shelters, some are staying with families in host communities and some have decided to stay in their homes.

Our staff themselves are facing displacement. They are facing the loss of their loved ones and of course, the pressures of the whole situation on them.  

They are working or they are trying to work to make sure that they are reaching the people in need.

UN News: If we do not have a ceasefire right now, what can be the challenges to deliver and move supplies across Gaza without a ceasefire or a humanitarian truce?

Ms. Zaki: I will not tell you that it is impossible, because I know that WFP and other humanitarian workers are on the ground and ready to respond and meet people's needs no matter the situation.  

But I can tell you that it is essential because humanitarian aid, humanitarian work, humanitarian workers, should be able to carry out their job to make sure that they can reach the people in need.

That is, of course, not to mention how essential it is that civilians must be protected and the essential infrastructure – hospitals, bakeries – these all must be protected. And if they are not, then carrying out humanitarian work is essentially much, much harder. How are the roads going to operate? The roads are damaged, the infrastructure is damaged. This is what is stopping shops from being able to restock with wholesalers.  

The lack of fuel, just like it's impacting, you know, the people inside – it will also hamper humanitarian operations because they cannot run without fuel. - UN News