It鈥檚 dangerous to seek food in Gaza
Since a new, Israeli-backed aid system began a month ago, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed near distribution hubs in southern Gaza, according to local health officials. The new aid centers are 鈥渄eath traps,鈥 according to Jens Laerke, a U.N. spokesman.
鈥淕aza is the hungriest place on earth,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hen we are able to bring anything in, it鈥檚 getting plundered immediately by the population. That鈥檚 the level of desperation.鈥
Other relief efforts have also been engulfed in chaos. The U.N. and other international organizations have been delivering a trickle of aid in northern Gaza. Desperate crowds have been ransacking the trucks, which carry flour and other goods, minutes after they enter the enclave, according to witnesses.
Background: The Israeli-backed system, run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has only a few operational hubs, mainly in the south. It was put in place after Israel blocked aid deliveries to Gaza for nearly three months, accusing Hamas of looting donated food. The U.S. announced $30 million in funding for the foundation yesterday.