GENEVA (Reuters) -The United Nations voiced grave concerns on Wednesday about food and other supplies running out in northern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people were already experiencing
Israel Closes Crossing to Northern Gaza Amid Famine Concerns
Humanitarian Crisis in Northern Gaza
GENEVA (Reuters) - United Nations agencies and Oxfam voiced grave concerns on Wednesday about food running out in northern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people are experiencing famine, after Israel closed the only operational crossing there last week.
Impact of the Crossing Closure
Israel began its long-expected ground assault on Gaza City in the north on Tuesday and is stepping up efforts to empty the city of civilians by opening an additional route southwards.
Responses from Aid Organizations
Hundreds of thousands of people are sheltering in the city and many are reluctant to follow Israel's orders to move because of dangers along the route, dire conditions, a lack of food to the south, and fear of permanent displacement.
Current Conditions in Gaza City
"There are grave concerns over fuel and food stock depletion in a matter of days as there are now no direct aid entry points into northern Gaza and resupply from south to north is increasingly challenging due to mounting road congestion and insecurity," the U.N. humanitarian office (OCHA) said in a statement.
The Zikim Crossing was shut on September 12 and no aid groups have been able to import supplies since, it said.
Bushra Khalidi, Policy Lead at Oxfam, said that the move could be "another strategy to corral the population to move down south".
Israel's military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its reasons for the closure. Late on Tuesday it said that humanitarian aid would be allowed to enter northern Gaza, without giving details.
Israel controls all access to Gaza and says it allows enough food aid into the enclave, where it has been at war with Palestinian militants Hamas for nearly two years. It accuses Hamas of stealing aid, which the militants deny.
"There is an urgent need for an active border point into the north to be opened for essential life-saving humanitarian supplies," said Abeer Etefa, a World Food Programme spokesperson, which had used the crossing before its closure.
A global hunger monitor said last month that Gaza City and surrounding areas were officially suffering from famine and that it was likely to spread.
(Reporting by Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Aidan Lewis)
