Assault on Rafah would be 'nail in coffin' of aid to refugees in Gaza
The Guardian|February 27, 2024
Aid reaching Gaza fell by half in February from the month before, the UN said yesterday as the secretary general, António Guterres, warned an Israeli assault on Rafah would be "the nail in the coffin" of deliveries to starving people in the territory.
Emma Graham-Harrison
Assault on Rafah would be 'nail in coffin' of aid to refugees in Gaza

"February registered a 50% reduction of humanitarian aid entering Gaza compared with January," Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said in a statement on X. "Aid was supposed to increase, not decrease, to address the huge needs of 2 million Palestinians in desperate conditions." The fall was caused by obstacles including regular closures of crossing points, lack of security due to military operations, the collapse of civil order and lack of political will, he said.

Israel's military had drawn up a plan to evacuate civilians from Rafah and get more aid into northern Gaza, the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said yesterday.

That could be a nod to US demands that Israel put forward plans to protect civilians before it sends troops into Rafah, a southern border city that is the only limited refuge from the fighting across Gaza and shelters almost 1.5 million Palestinians.

Guterres said Rafah was "the core of the humanitarian aid operation" and a military operation would make aid delivery almost impossible.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE GUARDIANView all
Wall of online rage should not obscure beauty and ugliness
The Guardian

Wall of online rage should not obscure beauty and ugliness

While the authorities have undermined fans’ trust, the truth is at risk of being buried under a mound of tinfoil hats

time-read
6 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Surrey worthy winners as Championship takes eye
The Guardian

Surrey worthy winners as Championship takes eye

Nestled within a season of Test triumphs for England, it was atop-of-the-table county clash that truly stole the show

time-read
3 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Strike it rich Footballers must find a moral compass before embarking on a journey of unity
The Guardian

Strike it rich Footballers must find a moral compass before embarking on a journey of unity

IT he distant strains of The Internationale can be heard on the approach to the Etihad Stadium.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Sri Lanka President pledges 'era of renaissance as leftists come in from the cold
The Guardian

Sri Lanka President pledges 'era of renaissance as leftists come in from the cold

As he was sworn in as Sri Lanka's new president yesterday morning, Anura Kumara Dissanayake heralded a \"new era of renaissance\" for the country.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Man reunited with lost family 73 years after he was abducted as a child
The Guardian

Man reunited with lost family 73 years after he was abducted as a child

A man who was abducted as a sixyear-old while playing in a California park in 1951 has been found more than seven decades later thanks to the help of an online ancestry test, old photos and newspaper clippings.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Veteran activist Fonda issues rallying call to young voters
The Guardian

Veteran activist Fonda issues rallying call to young voters

Young people's unhappiness with the Biden administration's record on oil and gas drilling and the war in Gaza should not deter them from voting to block Donald Trump from the US presidency, the Hollywood actor and activist Jane Fonda has urged.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Ex-partner of Pelicot co-accused fears she was raped
The Guardian

Ex-partner of Pelicot co-accused fears she was raped

The former partner of a co-defendant in a mass rape trial that has prompted horror and protests in France has broken down in tears and told the court she may herself have been sexually assaulted.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Meloni to be presented with thinktank's global citizen award by Musk
The Guardian

Meloni to be presented with thinktank's global citizen award by Musk

Giorgia Meloni is to be presented with the Atlantic Council's global citizen award by Elon Musk in New York, as the Italian far-right prime minister resurrects links with allies of Donald Trump before the US presidential election.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 24, 2024
French interior minister is sign 'reactionary right' are in power, critics warn
The Guardian

French interior minister is sign 'reactionary right' are in power, critics warn

The new French interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, has promised to \"restore order\" by cracking down on crime and immigration as critics on the left said the new government was leaning too far towards the \"reactionary right\".

time-read
3 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Show puts creator of first UK Holocaust memorial in the spotlight
The Guardian

Show puts creator of first UK Holocaust memorial in the spotlight

The work of an overlooked GermanJewish artist who created the UK's first memorial to victims of Nazi persecution is to be the focus of an exhibition that shines light on the unreported aspects of his life.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 24, 2024