GAZA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The proposed model of distribution by Israel "falls far short of addressing the devastating hunger" in the Gaza Strip, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said Tuesday.
"The manmade and politically motivated starvation in Gaza is an expression of absolute cruelty," UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said on the social media platform X.
"It cannot be addressed by weaponizing humanitarian assistance," Lazzarini added. "Humanitarian agencies have a set of principles to ensure assistance is delivered to all those in need, without exception."
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 UN has warned of an impending humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, reporting increasing signs of acute hunger, particularly among children.
In a recent press release, the UN said Israeli authorities were attempting to impose a new aid distribution system that would funnel humanitarian supplies through military-controlled hubs, rather than allowing UN agencies and non-governmental organizations to operate independently. ■
