Gaza: Armed Individuals Loot Large Quantities of Medical Supplies Destined for Malnourished Children

Armed individuals looted ‘large quantities’ of medical equipment and nutritional supplements that had just arrived at a field hospital in central Gaza, where the humanitarian situation remains dire, the UN reported. ‘Today, a group of armed individuals broke into the warehouses of a field hospital in Deir al-Balah, looting large quantities of medical equipment, supplies, medicines, and nutritional supplements for children suffering from malnutrition,’ said the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric. He noted that these goods had arrived the previous day in Gaza via trucks through the Kerem Shalom crossing. As conditions on the ground continue to deteriorate and public order collapses, reports of looting persist. However, today’s incident was described as more organized than recent thefts, particularly at the PAM warehouse. ‘This was an organized operation by armed men,’ he emphasized. Since last week, Israel has allowed limited passage of UN trucks through Kerem Shalom. The UN states this is ‘a drop in the ocean’ of needs, criticizing complex procedures with vehicles requiring reloading and access requests sometimes denied by Israeli authorities. Security conditions remain challenging due to Israeli military counteractions following the unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. For instance, only five trucks were collected from the Palestinian side of Kerem Shalom, while another 60 had to return due to hostilities, according to Dujarric. Israel accuses the UN of not collecting available aid. ‘It is no longer safe to use the road we were allowed to take,’ he remarked, highlighting the presence of many armed groups around Kerem Shalom. The five trucks that managed to pass delivered medical supplies to the field hospital in Deir al-Balah, but much of the cargo was stolen during today’s raid.