The United Nations has issued a grave warning about the deteriorating situation for aid delivery in Gaza, as Israel's military actions continue in the region.
Despite the urgency of the crisis, advocates note that the United States—a major ally of Israel and the UN's largest donor—has remained notably silent on the matter.
On Monday, a UN official revealed that the organization had to suspend nearly all aid operations in Gaza following a new series of evacuation orders issued by Israel. By Wednesday, the UN’s World Food Programme announced a temporary halt to staff movements in Gaza after one of its vehicles was attacked near an Israeli checkpoint.
Advocates argue that the US has a responsibility to address the situation, especially as Gaza experiences rising childhood malnutrition and the spread of polio, a preventable but highly contagious disease.
Raed Jarrar, advocacy director at Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), criticized the US government for its lack of response: “The United States government has run out of words and hasn’t even issued its usual performative statements regarding the UN's suspension of aid operations in Gaza.”
Legal experts suggest that obstructing humanitarian aid and attacking aid workers could be classified as war crimes under the Geneva Convention.
The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports a severe impact on Gaza’s civilians, highlighting a significant rise in acute malnutrition among children from May to July—up 300 percent in the northern regions and more than doubling in the south.
Meanwhile, widespread malnutrition is undermining vaccine effectiveness. Malnourished patients experience significantly reduced responses to vaccines, making it crucial to address food shortages to ensure that the vaccines are effective.
On Wednesday, the World Food Programme disclosed that one of its vehicles, marked and on a fully coordinated humanitarian mission, was struck 10 times by Israeli gunfire in Gaza. Fortunately, the vehicle’s bullet-proof glass protected the two staff members inside, who were unharmed. Despite this, the agency has decided to suspend the movement of its employees until further notice.
Just a day earlier, Gilles Michaud, the UN’s under-secretary-general for safety and security, had warned that while humanitarian operations in Gaza were resuming, aid workers were "operating at the outer limits of acceptable risk." Michaud criticized Israel for providing insufficient warning to aid workers about potential attacks, noting that over the weekend, the military gave only a few hours' notice to evacuate more than 200 UN personnel from their offices and residences in Deir Al Balah, a vital humanitarian center.
"Mass evacuation orders are the latest in a series of intolerable threats to UN and humanitarian staff," Michaud stated. In response to the resurgence of polio in Gaza, the UN had issued an appeal last week for a seven-day “humanitarian pause” in the conflict to ensure the safe movement of aid and humanitarian workers within the enclave.
Advocates such as el-Tayyab believe that the Biden administration could play a crucial role in implementing a humanitarian pause.
“Diplomatic pressure is incredibly important,” el-Tayyab stated. “Biden should use his platform to demand an immediate seven-day pause for polio vaccination efforts.”
On Tuesday, US Senator Chris Van Hollen supported the UN’s call for a seven-day ceasefire to facilitate the vaccination of approximately 640,000 children in Gaza. Van Hollen urged on the social media platform X: “The UN has called for an immediate pause. Biden should echo this demand. As we work towards a permanent ceasefire and the return of hostages, stopping the spread of polio must be a priority.”
The Biden administration has indicated its willingness to support efforts to combat polio in Gaza.
Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed reporters in Israel that he was collaborating with the Israeli government on the vaccine distribution effort.
On Wednesday, Israeli media reported that the government had approved temporary pauses in the fighting to facilitate vaccine distribution, though no formal plan has been announced.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health has stated that it has not been informed of any such plan.
Jarrar expressed skepticism about whether any proposed plans would adequately address the needs of Palestinians and criticized the Biden administration for failing to hold Israel accountable for obstructing aid.
“The Biden administration is so deeply complicit in Israel’s actions that it doesn’t even pretend otherwise,” Jarrar said. “Supporting Israel while it continues to block humanitarian aid and starve Palestinians is not only unethical but also a violation of US law.”
The Biden administration has largely concentrated its diplomatic efforts on securing a ceasefire agreement, which US officials argue would facilitate increased aid to Gaza.
During his speech at the Democratic National Convention on August 19, President Biden stated that the administration was working “around the clock” to “prevent a wider war” in the region. He highlighted the goal of surging humanitarian health and food assistance into Gaza and ending the suffering of Palestinian civilians.
Two days later, Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The White House readout of their conversation emphasized “ongoing US efforts to support Israel’s defense” and “the urgency of achieving a ceasefire.” However, it did not address the immediate need for improved humanitarian aid access to Gaza.
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