The World Food Programme has strongly condemned the "horrific incident" that took place yesterday, Sunday, in Gaza, when a convoy - clearly marked as belonging to the programme - came under fire from Israeli occupation forces at a military checkpoint near Wadi Gaza in the central Gaza Strip.

The World Food Programme said in a press statement on Monday that the incident put the lives of its employees at grave risk and led to the disruption of vehicles that were hit by at least sixteen bullets.

The programme stated that the convoy, which consisted of 3 vehicles carrying 8 employees, was subjected to hostile fire despite having obtained all necessary approvals from the Israeli occupation authorities.

The programme said no staff were injured in the “horrific” incident. “This unacceptable act is the latest example of the complexity and danger of the environment in which WFP and other humanitarian agencies operate,” it said.

He stressed the "urgent need to improve the security situation in Gaza in order to continue life-saving humanitarian aid."

The United Nations World Food Programme urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and allow safe passage of humanitarian aid.

On the other hand, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said that newborn babies in Gaza are dying due to hypothermia in the cold winter weather and lack of adequate shelter, while supplies that would protect them have been stuck in the area for months, awaiting approval from the Israeli occupation authorities to bring them into Gaza.

The agency reported in an update on the situation in Gaza, that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) expects that more children will lose their lives due to the inhumane conditions they are suffering from, which do not provide them with any protection from the cold in light of the winter weather and low temperatures.

At least five newborn babies are reported to have frozen to death between December 24-29.

UNICEF said that about 7,700 newborns in the Gaza Strip lack life-saving care.

As UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on the X platform, blankets, mattresses and other winter supplies have been stuck in the area for months awaiting approval to enter Gaza.

On the other hand, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, recent water quality monitoring by the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Cluster showed alarming levels of microbiological contamination. The office said that nearly 73% of drinking water and more than 97% of household water samples did not meet minimum national or international standards for water disinfection with chlorine.

The Israeli occupation continues its aggression on the Gaza Strip by land, sea and air since October 7, 2023, which has resulted to date in the martyrdom of 45,854 citizens, the majority of whom are women and children, and the injury of 109,139 others. These numbers are still expected to rise due to the presence of thousands of victims under the rubble and on the roads, where ambulance and rescue crews are unable to reach them due to the intensity of the bombing and the continuation of the aggression.