WFP Condemns Attack on Food Aid Convoy in Gaza, Calls for Immediate Ceasefire

Kokcha News Agency: On the morning of July 20, a 25-truck WFP convoy carrying vital food assistance crossed the Zikim border point into northern Gaza. Shortly after passing the final checkpoint, the convoy encountered large crowds of civilians desperately waiting for food supplies. Tragically, the crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers, and other gunfire, resulting in the loss of countless lives and leaving many others with life-threatening injuries.

WFP’s Statement on the Incident

The World Food Programme (WFP) expressed deep concern and sadness over the incident, stating:
🔹 “These people were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation. This terrible incident underscores the increasingly dangerous conditions under which humanitarian operations are forced to be conducted in Gaza.”
🔹 “Today’s violent incident comes despite assurances from Israeli authorities that humanitarian operational conditions would improve, including that armed forces will not be present nor engage at any stage along humanitarian convoy routes.”
🔹 “Shootings near humanitarian missions, convoys, and food distributions must stop immediately. Any violence involving civilians seeking humanitarian aid is completely unacceptable.”

Gaza’s Hunger Crisis

The WFP highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where:
🔹 90,000 women and children are in urgent need of treatment for malnutrition.
🔹 Nearly one in three people are not eating for days.
🔹 The cost of a one-kilogram bag of flour has surged to over $100 in local markets.

Call for Immediate Ceasefire and Safe Aid Delivery

The WFP called for an immediate ceasefire and the safe delivery of life-saving food aid to starving populations in Gaza. The organization emphasized the need for consistent, predictable, and unobstructed access to food supplies across the Gaza Strip.

WFP’s Readiness to Respond

The WFP stated that it is ready to respond at scale, with food supplies nearby, experienced teams on the ground, and proven systems in place. The organization urged the international community and all parties to facilitate the delivery of life-saving food aid to Gaza’s starving populations.