**Hungry Crowds Storm Gaza Food Warehouse, Two Killed**
In a desperate bid for food, thousands of people stormed a United Nations (UN) warehouse in central Gaza, leaving two dead and several injured. The incident highlights the dire humanitarian situation in the territory, where hunger has reached alarming levels.
The Al-Ghafari Warehouse in Deir Al-Balah was raided by large crowds, who made off with bags of flour and cartons of food. Gunshots were fired during the chaos, but it is unclear who was responsible or from where they came. The World Food Programme (WFP) has been working to distribute pre-positioned food supplies in the warehouse.
The WFP has warned that humanitarian needs in Gaza have spiralled out of control due to a nearly three-month Israeli blockade, which was eased last weekend. The organization has urged for an immediate increase in food assistance to prevent starvation. “Gaza requires an urgent boost in food aid,” said the WFP. “This is the only sure way to ensure people won’t starve.”
**Aid Efforts Struggle to Keep Pace**
The UN and international community have been working to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, with 121 trucks carrying supplies such as flour and food being transferred to the territory earlier this week. However, the situation remains critical, with many people facing famine.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the US and Israel, has set up private distribution centers in central and southern Gaza. The organization uses US security contractors to distribute aid, bypassing the UN. However, the UN has criticized the GHF for being unworkable and unethical.
**Looting and Violence Erupt at Aid Distribution Centers**
In recent days, desperate crowds have overrun aid distribution sites, including one run by the GHF in Rafah on Tuesday. 47 people were injured during the chaos. On Wednesday, a senior UN official reported that cargo was being looted from UN aid trucks.
The UN has accused Israel of allowing criminal gangs to operate near the Kerem Shalom border crossing in Gaza, where relief goods are being stolen. The organization has called for a surge in aid to reduce the risk of looting and allow its established distribution network to function effectively.
**Israeli Ambassador Accuses UN of “Mafia-Like” Behavior**
In response to the criticism, Israel’s ambassador at the UN, Danny Danon, accused the organization of behaving in a “mafia-like” manner. However, the UN has maintained that Israel’s new aid system in Gaza is “basically engineered scarcity,” which only operates in the southern part of the territory.
As the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, it remains to be seen whether the international community can provide sufficient aid to prevent further suffering.
