UN Suspends Program in Gaza in Response to Hamas Seizure of Food Aid

Flikr photo by Amir Farshad Ebrahimi used under a Creative Commons. Last week, the PCR Project hosted the World Food Program (WFP) Regional Director for the Middle East, Daly Belgasmi, to discuss the current situation and humanitarian challenges in Gaza. Today, the UN suspended food aid operations in Gaza after Hamas seized hundreds of tons of food, the second such incident in three days.  The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has stated it will not resume humanitarian assistance until Hamas returns the stolen aid and provides assurances that it will not coordinate future such seizures. Presently, 88 percent of people living in Gaza are registered to receive food aid from WFP and UNRWA.  The UN has made a $613 million appeal on behalf of Gaza and has since received only $90 million, or 15 percent of the requested amount.  Damage to the Gaza City Wastewater Treatment Plant continues to dump 60 million liters of raw sewage into the sea every day.  Israel has refused to open the border crossing with Gaza.