Conditions not ‘conducive’ for Gaza aid work after WCK attack: World Food Program

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Current conditions in Gaza are not “conducive” to safely providing humanitarian aid to people, said Abeer Etefa, World Food Program (WFP) senior spokeswoman for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, following Israel's targeting of a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy on April 1, resulting in the deaths of seven volunteers.

The attack killed seven aid workers – three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, a US-Canadian dual citizen and a Palestinian.

It has triggered strong condemnation around the globe and calls for accountability, with many, including WCK founder Jose Andres, disputing Israel’s claim that the attack was a “mistake” and a case of “misidentification.”

Highlighting that with 1.1 million people currently experiencing famine or on the brink of it in Gaza, Etefa said “we can’t afford to stop,” adding there’s no choice but to continue to work.

“But at the same time, we cannot continue to work in the same conditions and see many losses of life, whether it is to aid workers or to the people that gathered to receive this assistance,” she told Anadolu in an exclusive interview.

Noting she is “deeply saddened, shocked and upset” over the deaths of the WCK volunteers, Etafa said the attack is “really unacceptable.”

Describing WCK as a “key player” in the food security sector, she said: “They have been instrumental in providing essential food assistance to the people in Gaza. They have contributed significantly to combating hunger.”

“Their work is really vital. We and other aid organizations need safe, secure access to all parts of Gaza to halt the famine that's underway.

“The safety of aid workers is really paramount, as is the safety of those people who also receive WFP assistance and need to receive humanitarian aid,” she added.

Etefa also said “the key point” is that humanitarian aid workers must be safeguarded and respected, while urgent access is crucial to reach the most vulnerable people across the Gaza Strip.

Asked about her opinion on Israel’s intentional targeting of humanitarian aid workers in Gaza, she said the underlying reasons behind everything cannot be fully understood, but what can be addressed is the impact and the loss of seven lives, along with many others before them.

Despite Israel’s attacks on humanitarian aid workers and civilians in Gaza, Etefa said the WFP is still operating in the region and “there has been no decision to take anyone out of Gaza.”

She said that Israel's intentional starvation of people in Gaza should be addressed by the International Court of Justice and the UN Security Council, as it is considered a war crime according to international conventions.

“We need the protection of humanitarian aid workers, the protection of civilians, and the ability to move freely and to be able to access many of these areas.

“The most important thing that we would need so that this can all happen would be to have a humanitarian cease-fire,” she added.

To combat famine and ensure the safety of aid workers and those in need in Gaza, “nothing would replace the humanitarian cease-fire,” she stressed. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​