Israel given urgent warning by UN agency over fears of huge famine across Gaza

31 December 2023 , 20:59

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People in Gaza, including children, have limited resources (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Israel is to allow aid into Gaza by sea after a UN agency warned four in 10 there are at risk of famine.

UNRWA had said the population in the war zone face “catastrophic hunger”, adding: “Each day is a struggle for survival.” Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen said yesterday that aid deliveries by a “sea corridor” could start immediately.

Under the arrangement, cargo would be inspected in the Cypriot port of Larnaca before being ferried to Gaza’s coast 230 miles away, rather than through neighbouring Egypt or Israel.

Gaza lacks a deep-water port but Mr Cohen said countries such as the UK, Netherlands, France and Greece have vessels capable of landing on the shore.

He said a request to use the Israeli port of Ashdod had been denied, adding: “We want disengagement, with security control. That’s the goal.” The sea corridor aid missions would be the first easing of a naval blockade that Israel imposed on Gaza in 2007.

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International groups have long warned that the amount of aid entering the region is far below what is needed amid the military action by Israel. Yesterday, the Palestinian Ministry of Info­­r­­mation said dozens of people were killed in strikes in central and southern Gaza, with casualties reported in the Al-­­Maghazi, Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps.

It followed similar attacks on Saturday and comes after Israeli forces mistakenly shot at UN armoured vehicles in Gaza on Thursday. It highlighted the challenges facing humanitarian efforts amid the conflict.

Matthew Young