UN Humanitarian Operations Halt in Gaza Amid New Evacuations

United Nations humanitarian aid operations in Gaza stopped after Israel's latest evacuation orders for Deir Al-Balah. A senior UN official reported difficulties in delivering aid due to safety concerns. Despite the halting of operations, efforts are ongoing to find solutions for resuming activities.

The United Nations has suspended its humanitarian aid operations in Gaza following Israel's recent evacuation directives for Deir Al-Balah, a central Gaza Strip location. A senior U.N. official stated that current conditions have made it impossible to deliver aid effectively. 'We're unable to deliver today with the conditions that we're in,' the official, who wished to remain anonymous, commented.

Despite the cessation of operations, the official emphasized that the U.N. remains committed to Gaza, highlighting the difficulty of balancing the needs of the population with the safety of U.N. personnel. 'We're not leaving (Gaza) because the people need us there,' he said, reiterating that formal suspension of operations has not occurred.

The official noted that the U.N. had shifted its main command operations for Gaza to Deir Al-Balah after Israel's evacuation order for Rafah. The rapid relocation left much equipment behind. 'The challenge is to find a place where we can reset and effectively operate,' the official added, underscoring the increasing operational constraints. The conflict between Hamas and Israel, which began on Oct. 7, 2023, has since caused substantial casualties and mass displacements.

(With inputs from agencies.)