An Australian aid worker has recounted the moment her convoy, which had informed both parties in the Israel-Gaza conflict of its movements, was hit by bullets while delivering aid in Gaza.
Tess Ingram, a former journalist, had been working with UNICEF to deliver fuel, food and medicine to hospitals and health centres in Gaza on April 9.
Ms Ingram, in a video supplied by UNICEF, said she was going on a "coordinated mission", which meant both parties in the conflict knew where they were going and at what time, so "they could meet their obligations under international humanitarian law so that they can keep us both safe".
The aid workers were stopped at a checkpoint in Gaza, after there was a problem with the convoy truck that was carrying some of the aid supplies, when shots broke out.
She said the car she was in was then hit with bullets. She pointed to a number of what she said were bullet holes in the doors and bonnet of the car.
Ms Ingram told the ABC the incident pointed to greater issues with efforts to deliver aid to those who need it."I just think it really underscores, about a week after the World Central Kitchen tragedy … that those issues with coordination haven't been resolved," Ms Ingram said.
She said aid organisations having to pause their work had impacted humanitarian efforts in the region.
"We need more aid to get in, but then we also need the conditions to deliver that aid to be improved. We need to know that we'll have telecoms that our missions, when they were told are safe, that they'll actually be safe. We need better access."
For months, aid workers and Palestinians have only been able to rely on two entry points, including the Rafah Crossing with Egypt and Kerem Shalom with Israel — both in the south of Gaza.
ABC LINK.
theres the report from the aid worker on video showing the bullet holes in the Food Aid vehicle.
we've already heard many times of aid workers being killed by live fire in Gaza. journalists also being shot and killed.
taken in the whole, along with the lack of concern for non-combatant people, its looking increasingly like they just don't give a damn who they kill.
