Current:Home > MarketsAid organizations suspend operations in Gaza after World Central Kitchen workers’ deaths -Core Financial Strategies
Aid organizations suspend operations in Gaza after World Central Kitchen workers’ deaths
View
Date:2025-04-17 06:40:45
NEW YORK (AP) — Several humanitarian aid organizations suspended operations in Gaza on Tuesday after an Israeli airstrike killed seven World Central Kitchen workers.
The nonprofits, including World Central Kitchen, said they now need to determine whether their workers can safely provide aid in the region. According to the United Nations, more than 200 humanitarian aid workers have died since the war began in October.
“We are horrified and heartbroken by the tragic killing of seven innocent humanitarians in Gaza,” said Chris Skopec, executive vice president of global health at Project HOPE, which operates health clinics in Rafah and Deir al-Balah and provides medical supplies and other aid to area hospitals.
The three World Central Kitchen vehicles, hit after loading up with food from a nearby warehouse, were clearly marked and their movements were known to the Israeli military, according to the organization.
Those steps are what humanitarian workers use to try to ensure their safety in the dangerous region, Skopec said. For the World Central Kitchen convoy to still be hit with military fire increased apprehension among aid workers in the region, he said.
“There needs to be accountability,” Skopec said. “The government of Israel needs to be able to give assurances that they consider aid works legitimate actors in Gaza and that international law will be respected. We need to be able to do this critical, life-saving work safely.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that the country’s forces had carried out the “unintended strike ... on innocent people.” He said officials were looking into the strike and would work to ensure it did not happen again.
In a briefing Tuesday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the United States is concerned the incident could have a chilling effect on other groups carrying out aid operations in the territory.
Anera, a partner of World Central Kitchen and Project HOPE that provides humanitarian aid in the Middle East, also announced Tuesday it would take the “unprecedented step” of pausing its humanitarian operations in Gaza. Since the war began, Anera’s team has provided an average of 150,000 meals daily in Gaza.
“The blatant nature of the attack on WCK’s convoy has proven that aid workers are currently under attack,” said Anera media relations officer Steve Fake. “Our decision to resume aid relies on the safety of our staff.”
The International Medical Corps, which has one of the largest fields hospitals in Rafah with 140 beds said it is “rethinking our process,” including its plans to set up another field hospital in Deir al-Balah.
“It is devastating,” said Dr. Zawar Ali, who has been running the Rafah field hospital and is working to set up the new hospital. “It really is an immense blow to morale. It puts us (in) a very uncertain position in terms of our coordination with the different actors for security.”
___
El Deeb reported from Beirut.
___
Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
veryGood! (45788)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Sparks Fly as Travis Kelce Reacts to Taylor Swift's Matching Moment
- NFL Week 17 winners, losers: Eagles could be in full-blown crisis mode
- First chance to see meteors in 2024: How to view Quadrantids when meteor showers peak
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Ex-gang leader makes his bid in Las Vegas court for house arrest before trial in Tupac Shakur case
- Fighting in southern Gaza city after Israel says it is pulling thousands of troops from other areas
- Missing Chinese exchange student found safe in Utah following cyber kidnapping scheme, police say
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Billy Joel jokes about moving to Florida during late-night New Year's Eve show in New York
Ranking
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- 2 men arrested in connection with Ugandan Olympic runner’s killing in Kenya, police say
- Taylor Swift dethrones Elvis Presley as solo artist with most weeks atop Billboard 200 chart
- After a grueling 2023, here are four predictions for media in 2024
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Les McCann, prolific jazz musician known for protest song 'Compared to What,' dies at 88
- Somalia dismisses Ethiopia-Somaliland coastline deal, says it compromises sovereignty
- Niners celebrate clinching NFC's top seed while watching tiny TV in FedExField locker room
Recommendation
'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Speaks Out in First Videos Since Prison Release
Hack, rizz, slay and other cringe-worthy words to avoid in 2024
16-year-old traveling alone on Frontier mistakenly boarded wrong flight to Puerto Rico
DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
Owen the Owl was stranded in the middle the road. A Georgia police officer rescued him.
Access to busy NYC airport’s international terminal restricted due to pro-Palestinian protest
Michael Penix Jr. leads No. 2 Washington to 37-31 victory over Texas and spot in national title game