NO HUMANITARIAN AID DISTRIBUTED IN GAZA AS IT IS STUCK AT ISRAELI-CONTROLLED KAREEM SHALOM CROSSING: UN

HAMILTON, May 22 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The United Nations (UN) said on Wednesday that a small number of aid trucks have been allowed into the Gaza Strip through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, but none of the supplies have been distributed due to security concerns, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that none of the humanitarian supplies that crossed into the enclave were able to leave the loading area at Kerem Shalom because "Israeli authorities had only allowed our teams to go through one area that was highly congested, that we felt was insecure and where we felt looting was highly likely to take place, given the prolonged deprivation in Gaza since the blockade by the Israeli authorities for over 11 weeks."

"Other critical items such as hygiene products or fuel have not been allowed by the Israeli authorities into Kerem Shalom," said Dujarric.

Emphasising that the aid remains stuck despite trucks being loaded and ready to move, he added that "as of noon (local time, Wednesday), there was no information that had reached our colleagues in Jerusalem that trucks had left Kerem Shalom."

Saying that the situation is "fluid," Dujarric stated that the UN is continuing to engage with Israel "to identify the best possible routes out of Kerem Shalom towards Gaza, to ensure that the flow of aid is not disrupted or suspended."

"However, it is important to underscore that the limited supplies finally being allowed to enter Kerem Shalom are nowhere near enough to meet the needs in Gaza, which are vast, which are tremendous. Much, much more aid needs to get in," he noted.

Dujarric said Israeli "bombardment and shelling are continuing across the Gaza Strip. Today, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported dozens of people killed in the last 24 hours, and yesterday, it made an urgent call for blood donations for the sick and for those injured."

Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), he reported that "80% of the Gaza Strip is now either subject to displacement orders or located in Israeli-militarised zones. These zones require humanitarians to coordinate their movements with the Israeli security authorities."

"The ongoing displacement of Gaza’s population is putting immense pressure on humanitarian teams, especially when there is no food or any basic items being allowed in," he said.

Noting that shelter conditions remain dire, with displacement sites, residential buildings and temporary facilities overcrowded or uninhabitable, he said that "people are settling in abandoned, unfinished, or destroyed or damaged structures. Some are sleeping out in the open."

Dujarric reported that health care services are crumbling amid Israel's continued attacks on medical facilities.

"Earlier today, Al Awda Hospital, which is the only partially functional hospital in North Gaza governorate and still treating a dozen patients, was hit. Yesterday, Kamal Adwan Hospital ceased operations," he said.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU