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People carrying boxes and large bags out of a warehouse

Gazans Plunder UNRWA Food Supplies As ‘Civil Order’ Breaks Down in War-Torn Strip

The United Nations warned Sunday, October 29, that “civil order” was starting to collapse in Gaza after thousands of people ransacked its food warehouses in the war-torn Palestinian enclave. The UN Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) said wheat, flour, and other supplies had been pillaged at several warehouses.

“This is a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down after three weeks of war and a tight siege,” said UNRWA’s Gaza chief Thomas White.

One of the warehouses in the central town of Deir el-Balah had been used to store supplies from humanitarian convoys that began crossing into Gaza from Egypt on October 21. “Thousands of people broke into several UNRWA warehouses and distribution centers in the middle and southern areas of the Gaza Strip, taking wheat flour and other basic survival items like hygiene supplies,” UNRWA said.

Israel originally imposed a total blockade on food, water, medicine, and fuel deliveries into Gaza, but later allowed humanitarian aid convoys, not including fuel, to bring supplies in from Egypt. It has also resumed some of its water supply; the second of three water pipelines that provide water to the Gaza Strip has been reopened, allowing for a total of 28.5 million liters a day to flow into the Hamas-run territory from Israel.

Further, since then, UNRWA says 84 aid trucks have crossed into Gaza but aid agencies say the numbers are far too low. Before the conflict, UN figures showed an average of 500 trucks a day entering Gaza. (TOI / VFI News)

“You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked.” - Psalm 12:7