UN suspends night

Palestinians check a damaged vehicle after Israeli strikes in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah, on April 2, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

UN humanitarians have suspended night-time aid movements in Gaza for at least 48 hours following Isreal's killing of World Central Kitchen staff, said a UN spokesman on Wednesday.

"We have suspended our night-time movements within the Gaza Strip for at least 48 hours to allow for further evaluation of the security issues that impacted our personnel on the ground," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The 48-hour suspension started on Tuesday following Monday's killing of World Central Kitchen staff, he said.

"That's, of course, for night-time movements. During the day, our colleagues at the World Food Programme tell us that operations continue, including our daily efforts to send convoys to the north," said the spokesman. "And as famine closes in, we need humanitarian staff and supplies to be able to move freely and safely across the Gaza Strip."

He said the World Health Organization (WHO) is still waiting for permission from the Israeli authorities to get access to Al Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza. The WHO team is also planning to visit two other hospitals in northern Gaza -- Sahaba and Ahli hospitals. However, no permission has been received to go to those sites.

"We can only underscore once more that delays and the denial of humanitarian missions not only prevent us from reaching those in need. But they also impact other operations and deliveries by diverting scarce resources," said the spokesman. "We and our humanitarian partners will continue to do all we can to get life-saving aid to civilians all across the Gaza Strip."