**Gaza Aid Trucks Met with Chaos as Hunger and Desperation Take Hold**
The World Food Programme (WFP) has reported chaotic scenes in Gaza as crowds rushed aid trucks, desperate for food. According to the WFP, all trucks were stopped along their route, and hungry people took food from the vehicles to feed themselves and their families.
The situation is dire, with two million people in Gaza desperately in need of food. The UN estimates that only around 10% of the people’s needs have been met in the past week, despite Israel easing its 11-week blockade on aid last month. The WFP has stated that after nearly 80 days of total blockade, people are starving and will not allow a food truck to pass.
**Risk of Famine Looms Large**
UN-backed assessments have warned that Gaza’s entire population is at “critical” risk of famine. The WFP has reported that the aid they were able to distribute was not enough to control the chaos and calm the situation. WFP spokeswoman Abeer Etefa explained that there was a high risk that convoys wouldn’t reach their warehouse, leading to the decision to allow people to take aid if they were in large crowds.
**Israel’s Blockade and Aid Distribution**
Israel imposed the blockade on Gaza to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages. At least 20 are believed to still be alive. The Israeli military agency Cogat has accused the UN of not distributing aid already in Gaza, with Israel’s Foreign Ministry claiming that hundreds of trucks were waiting.
However, the UN has refused to operate under this plan, citing a conflict with humanitarian principles. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation claimed to have distributed two million meals in the past week, but this claim could not be independently verified by the BBC.
**Humanitarian Crisis Deepens**
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen, with Israeli air strikes ongoing and reports of civilians being killed. The Israel Defense Forces reported that dozens of terror targets were hit throughout the Gaza Strip over the course of one day, while the Hamas-run health ministry reported 60 people killed by military operations.
**Doctors Overwhelmed**
Christos Georgalas, a Greek surgeon who worked at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza until May 21, described the devastating impact of malnutrition and trauma on his patients. He reported that many doctors hadn’t been paid for an entire year, with some living in tents and commuting without protection to work.
**International Efforts**
The international community is calling for action to address the crisis in Gaza. A delegation of foreign ministers from Egypt, Bahrain, and Jordan was set to meet with Mahmoud Abubas in Ramallah to discuss promoting a Palestinian state. Saudi Arabia and France will also co-host a conference next month to revive the two-state solution as a response to the Gaza War.
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