A convoy of 109 trucks carrying food supplies from the World Food Programme and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) through the Kerem Shalom crossing with the Gaza Strip was looted on Saturday, severely damaging the trucks and in some cases losing their entire cargo, a UN spokesman said.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the convoy, which was scheduled for Sunday, received instructions from Israeli military forces to leave - at short notice - via an unfamiliar alternative route.

In his daily press conference, he said: “As this incident underscores, we still face significant challenges in bringing aid into southern and central Gaza. These challenges persist despite numerous attempts to overcome them, including the repair of an alternative route and the use of a new border point, the Kissufim crossing.”

The UN spokesman added that Kissufim, Kerem Shalom and the surrounding roads have proven to be ineffective due to security issues, and are insufficient to ensure the continuous flow of humanitarian supplies into Gaza.

Dujarric said supplies needed to prepare hot meals - already in short supply - are only enough for two more days before they run out.

About a million people have not received food parcels since July or earlier.

During the first half of this month, food parcels reached between 150,000 and 200,000 people in Gaza City.

Yesterday, a local UN partner provided water, cleaning supplies and psychosocial support to tens of thousands of Palestinians in shelters and residential parts of Gaza City.