United Nations Radio

If no fuel is allowed in Gaza on Wednesday, its power plant will shut down, which will lead to increased electricity cuts in most areas.

This warning comes from an emergency meeting held by international humanitarian agencies operating in the Gaza Strip. In an effort to save fuel, the UN Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has been prioritizing food distribution, solid waste removal and sewage projects. UNRWA reports that its fuel supplies will be exhausted by Thursday. If Israel doesn't allow the delivery of fuel by then, the agency will have to cut food aid to 650,000 refugees and garbage collection services for 500,000 Gazans.

In a recent statement eight UN humanitarian agencies called the current situation "a threat to the health and well-being of the population of the Gaza Strip, 56 per cent of whom are children". They said that the work of the United Nations in Gaza has been severely hampered, affecting schools, health facilities, and food distribution. UN organizations called on Israel to resume distribution of sufficient fuel to allow Palestinian there to go about their normal daily life.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Elena Vapnitchnaia

(duration: 1'15")