GAZA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced Saturday that it has suspended its operations at a water station east of Gaza City after the Israeli army killed two drivers contracted by the organization.
In a press statement, the organization said "UNICEF is outraged by the killing of two drivers of trucks contracted by UNICEF to provide clean water to families in the Gaza Strip."
It added that, "The victims were killed by Israeli fire in an incident that took place at the Mansoura water filling point in northern Gaza. UNICEF extends our condolences to the families of the men killed."
The statement said that the UNICEF contractors have been instructed to suspend onsite activities until security conditions in the area are restored.
It called on the Israeli authorities to immediately investigate this incident, and ensure full accountability. Humanitarian workers, essential service providers, and civilian infrastructure, including critical water facilities, must never be targeted.
Brothers Eid and Mahmoud Abu Warda were killed, and two others were injured, when the Israeli army bombed a water desalination plant at the beginning of Mansoura Street in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, on Friday, according to Palestinian medical sources.
The Israeli army has not commented on the incident.
According to the UN agency, the water filling station in Mansoura is currently the only operational filling station for trucks connected to the Mekorot water supply line serving Gaza City. UNICEF and its humanitarian partners use this point several times a day to ensure the continued delivery of vital water to hundreds of thousands of people, including children, according to the statement. ■
