UNITED NATIONS, May 20 (Xinhua) -- More aid trucks have been allowed into Gaza while procedures, security concerns and limited daylight hours for safe operations have thwarted goods delivery, a UN spokesman said Tuesday.
"The first trucks of vital baby food are now inside Gaza after 11 weeks of total blockade, and it is urgent that we get that assistance distributed," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "We need much, much more to cross."
Dujarric explained that while the supplies have been allowed by Israel to enter Gaza, they are stuck at the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing. The material is offloaded from one truck, inspected, and cleared for delivery by other vehicles.
The spokesman said four trucks made it into the checkpoint on Monday and "a few dozen" entered on Tuesday.
However, he said various secured paths from the checkpoint to UN warehouses have to be mapped out and approved by the Israeli military in the middle of their stepped-up offensive against Hamas. Once at the UN warehouses, the material can be distributed to Gazans.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the United Nations sent flour, medicines, nutrition supplies, and other basic supplies through the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing on Monday.
"We managed to get in baby formula and other nutrition supplies," Dujarric said. "Today (Tuesday), our team waited several hours for (the) Israeli green light to access Kerem Shalom and collect the nutrition supplies."
But time ran out at nightfall when it came too dangerous for humanitarians to work, he explained during a briefing.
"Just to make it clear, while more supplies have come into the Gaza Strip, we have not been able to secure the arrival of those supplies into our warehouses and delivery points," Dujarric said.
OCHA, citing the health authorities in Gaza, said the Indonesian Hospital was attacked on Monday, damaging electrical generators and forcing the facility to suspend services. There were 55 people in the hospital at the time of the attack, including patients and medical staff.
The office said an Israeli airstrike reportedly hit a school in An Nuseirat, killing seven people and injuring others.
UNRWA, the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees, reported two of its staff were killed. The death toll for UNRWA employees during the Gaza war has topped the 300 mark.
The humanitarians said the Israeli military issued another displacement order, affecting 26 neighborhoods in Beit Lahiya and Jabalya and its camp in northern Gaza. The affected area is about 35 square kilometers, about 10 percent of the Gaza Strip.
"Humanitarian partners estimate that as of midday today (Tuesday), more than 41,000 people were displaced, including due to hostilities targeting displacement sites and displacement orders," OCHA said. "According to partners' estimates, more than 57,000 people have been displaced in southern Gaza and more than 81,000 people have been displaced in northern Gaza (since Thursday) due to intensified hostilities and recurrent displacement orders."
The office said its partners reported the order affects 113 displacement sites, more than half of which were impacted by previous displacement orders. The facilities affected are three hospitals, three health care centers and four medical points within the displacement area.
OCHA said the partners pointed out that two more hospitals, four health care centers and six medical points are within 1,000 meters of the displacement area and estimate that 80 percent of the Gaza Strip is now either subject to displacement orders or located in Israeli-militarized zones.
"Partners working in education also report that three temporary learning spaces, where about 500 children are supported with education and recreational activities by 12 teachers, have been affected by today's (Tuesday's) displacement order," the office said.
OCHA said the partners providing water and sanitation services report that their operations continue to be severely disrupted across the strip due to fuel shortages.
It said that no fuel is available in the northern part of Gaza, and only half of the required weekly supply was received last week. Fuel reserves are nearly depleted. Operating hours for water wells have been further reduced, and complete shutdowns are imminent.
In southern Gaza, OCHA reported water utilities have not received any fuel. Some 140,000 liters per week are needed to maintain operations.
The office said that food and security partners report that at least nine kitchens in Khan Younis, Gaza City and North Gaza were temporarily closed or slated for relocation on Monday due to recent displacement orders and hostilities since Thursday.
"Our food security partners say that as of yesterday (Monday), about 282,000 daily meals were prepared and delivered by 16 partners through about 70 kitchens," OCHA said. ■
