Border restrictions have prevented a popemobile donated by Pope Francis and converted into an ambulance from entering Gaza. Source: CNA.
Prior to his death, Pope Francis donated the popemobile he used during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem to be turned into a mobile clinic to assist children in Gaza.
The initiative was personally entrusted by the late pontiff to Caritas Jerusalem to respond to the grave humanitarian emergency in Gaza, where nearly 1 million displaced children live without access to food, clean water, or basic medical care amid the conflict with Israel.
However, ongoing border restrictions, including the sealing of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, have prevented the vehicle, which was refurbished with essential medical equipment, from reaching its destination.
“We are still working in coordination with government agencies to ensure the popemobile enters Gaza. But the borders remain closed, and in my opinion, it will not be possible in the near future,” Harout Bedrossian, press officer for Caritas Jerusalem, said.
Mr Bedrossian indicated that while some humanitarian aid is entering, “it is controlled by military distribution points” and is not effective as the situation remains “very chaotic”.
One of the main problems facing Caritas is the shortage of permits issued by the Israeli government to enter Gaza: “Obtaining permits to enter Gaza from Israel is a very arduous and lengthy process. From Egypt, it is a little easier, but all borders are currently closed.”
Humanitarian aid to the population of Gaza is trickling in, but not without serious problems that have even led to bloodshed in recent days, according to authorities in Gaza.
According to local observers, Doctors Without Borders and the Red Crescent, Israeli soldiers fired on a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation-run aid distribution centre on Sunday, killing at least 31 people. However, the foundation denied this report and asserted that the aid was distributed without incident.
The BBC reports this morning that a further 27 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire as they attempted to collect aid near another distribution site, according to local officials.
FULL STORY
Popemobile converted into ambulance blocked from entering Gaza (By Victoria Cardiel, CNA)
At least 27 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire near aid centre, Gaza authorities say (By Tom Bennett, BBC)
