New Delhi, Mar 27: More than a dozen Palestinians lost their lives while attempting to retrieve vital aid that was air-dropped over northern Gaza. The Gaza-run media office reported that a dozen individuals tragically drowned in the sea as they sought to collect food packages, while six others were fatally trampled in stampedes during the chaotic scramble for aid parcels.
Several western and local media reported some dozen deaths in drowning while collecting aid as some parachutes dropped by air drifted into the sea.
Expressing outrage and sorrow, Gaza authorities condemned the continued use of airdrops, denouncing them as not only ineffective but also harmful and disrespectful. Video footage, obtained by Reuters, captured the frantic scene as Palestinians rushed to the coast near the town of Beit Lahia upon the arrival of aid packages parachuting down onto the beach.
Israel, facing mounting pressure to ease the humanitarian crisis, facilitated the airdrop of 159 one-tonne packages of aid, while the US and the UK contributed significant quantities of essential supplies. Despite these efforts, humanitarian organizations caution that airdrops alone cannot meet the escalating demand for food, sparking intense debate over the efficacy of such strategies.
In response to the tragic events, the Palestinian resistance group Hamas insisted that Israel must lift its blockade and allow aid to flow through land crossings.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, UNICEF emphasized the imperative of transporting aid by road to avert an impending famine. The organization stressed that essential supplies are readily available just kilometres away across Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, emphasizing the need for immediate action to prevent further loss of life.
US announced its intention to continue airdrops, underscoring the complexities of aid distribution in a region plagued by conflict and deprivation. As the plight of Gaza’s residents continues to worsen, the international community faces mounting pressure to address the humanitarian crisis and ensure unfettered access to vital aid supplies.