Internet cut-off limits Gazan's ability to receive Israeli military warnings

OCHA reports that Israeli authorities continue to deny many humanitarian movements aimed at providing support to Gaza Strip's population.

UNITED NATIONS, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The internet cut-off in Gaza has limited Gazan's ability to receive Israeli military warnings, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

The Israeli military posted a map of Gaza with red outlining a dangerous combat zone for civilians to avoid, apparently covering most of the strip.

Gaza remains without internet or data connectivity after the last fiber cable route serving central and southern areas of the strip was cut on Thursday, following intense hostilities, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "Restoring connectivity is urgent."

The office said that humanitarian partners working on telecommunications continue to coordinate urgent repairs of fiber cable routes in Gaza, including those that were previously damaged. However, they report that since April, the Israeli authorities have denied more than 20 requests by partners to carry out that work.

"As the outage continues, partners are unable to communicate or coordinate response activities, and people in need remain isolated, and without the information, they need to access life-saving support and emergency services," OCHA said, adding that it is critically essential that lines be repaired immediately.

The office said the 100-day-plus fuel blockade continues. Sufficient fuel supplies are crucial for maintaining essential, life-saving services in Gaza, including intensive care units and critical health, water, and sanitation services. Fuel is also needed to run generators powering telecom equipment.

OCHA reports that Israeli authorities continue to deny many humanitarian movements aimed at providing support to the strip's population.

Eight out of 18 attempts by the United Nations to coordinate such movements on Thursday, including efforts to retrieve wheat flour and fuel supplies, were unsuccessful. Four other missions failed, either due to impediments or because organizers had to cancel them, which typically occurs for security or logistical reasons. The remaining six missions, which included the relocation of staff, were successful.

Delivering food aid to hungry Gazans remains a challenge.

Tom Fletcher, undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said the killing and injury of hungry people seeking food and those delivering aid are unacceptable.

The relief chief said on Thursday that UN convoys carrying humanitarian aid have been intercepted by armed Palestinian gangs, endangering staff and drivers. Civilians in desperate need of the limited food humanitarians can bring in have been shot by Israeli forces, crushed by trucks, or stabbed while trying to retrieve food.

He said starving people reported Israeli forces opened fire on them, mainly around the distribution centers of the new militarized Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). On Wednesday, the GHF reported that Palestinians involved in food distribution at their aid hubs sponsored by the United States and approved by Israel were killed, injured or captured by Hamas.

"Without immediate and massively scaled-up access to the basic means of survival, we risk a descent into famine, further chaos, and the loss of more lives," Fletcher said. "Hunger must never be met with bullets. Humanitarians must be allowed to do their work." ■