Head of Doctors Without Borders Expresses Concern Over Violence at Gaza Food Aid Center

Head of Doctors Without Borders Expresses Concern Over Violence at Gaza Food Aid Center

HOST:

This morning, another mass casualty event occurred near a food distribution site in Gaza, marking the third such incident in just three days. Over two dozen people lost their lives while attempting to gather emergency food aid, as confirmed by Gaza health officials and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Witnesses assert that the Israeli military opened fire on the crowd. The military subsequent confession involved acknowledging the firing of warning shots at "several suspects" approaching their position and additional shots at these suspects who purportedly did not retreat.

The ongoing violence might be associated with the peculiar manner in which Israel is administering food distribution in Gaza. This method stands in stark contrast to how aid is typically dispensed in zones of conflict. On the show today to elucidate further is Avril Benoit, the CEO of Doctors Without Borders within the U.S., who has hands-on experience distributing aid in conflict-ridden regions worldwide. Welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, Avril!

BENOIT: Thank you for having me.

HOST: So, the food distribution sites in southern Gaza are not managed by the U.N. or recognized international aid organizations. Instead, a private group with U.S. backing oversees the entire operation. How uncharacteristic is that?

BENOIT: Extremely so – this food distribution scheme is orchestrated by a group called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, created by the U.S. and Israel, not just backed. However, the repercussions have been devastating. On the inaugural day of distribution in Rafah, people were shot and wounded. Given the prolonged siege suffered by the Gazan population for weeks and months, one can imagine the chaos that unfolds as people fight tooth and nail to secure meager food supplies, a scenario that's regrettably predictable when humanitarian principles aren’t adhered to. These principles encompass both a certain degree of expertise and notions of impartiality, ensuring aid isn’t politicized and the military doesn’t interfere[1].

HOST: With that being said, can you elaborate on what you've observed this organization doing that a group like the U.N. wouldn’t normally do?

BENOIT: This is essentially a manipulative tactic if you will, pretending to conform to international humanitarian law while delivering food. Yet, for the entire span of my career in humanitarian crisis zones, I have never encountered a three-month siege.

HOST: To clarify, I believe you're referring to the three months Israel effectively stopped food from reaching the Gaza Strip.

BENOIT: Exactly. In reality, the number of trucks getting in is minuscule compared to what's required. We, at Doctors Without Borders, have over 106 trucks waiting for authorization to cross, loaded with medical supplies, such as painkillers, antibiotics, saline, compress gauzes, and so forth[1]. In a traditional food distribution, the aid would be handed out in an impartial manner, with no need for people to risk their lives just to receive it. Instead, aid is provided to those in the greatest need without requiring them to brave danger[2].

HOST: In any conflict zone where individuals risk starvation, security concerns naturally arise. There's always the potential for pandemonium and chaos. How are these issues typically mitigated at aid distribution sites in conflict zones?

BENOIT: First and foremost, aid should be readily available, not withheld, nor blocked, creating desperate situations in which people are compelled to take risks. In many conflict zones, that's not always feasible, such as in Sudan, where high levels of malnutrition, even famine, exist due to severe insecurity, thus rendering traditional aid delivery systems inoperable[1]. However, in a situation like this, Israeli military activities and increased airstrikes, coupled with widespread evacuation orders, have transformed Gaza into a hotbed of violence and panic, underscoring the intrinsically human-made nature of the chaos. It doesn't come as a surprise that desperate individuals will endanger themselves in an attempt to feed themselves and their families[3].

HOST: Israel maintains full authority over all aid entering Gaza. Do you envision a diplomatic path for the U.N. and experienced aid organizations such as yours to resume their humanitarian work in Gaza, given previous circumstances?

BENOIT: It's veritably indispensable. There's no alternative. Consider events on the ground now as clear evidence that Israel was warned against creating conditions akin to genocide or managing the conflict in a manner that generates allegations of international law violations, such as widespread starvation and withholding humanitarian aid from the afflicted[1]. While the political landscape is complex, I am not an expert on the matter. Our organization remains politically neutral, focusing solely on advocating for victims' right to survival. The situation demands an immediate cessation of violence, allowing aid to be delivered effectively. Our current team members are struggling to even sustain themselves, with many barely consuming one meal per day[4]. For us, the ongoing violence is intolerable.

HOST: Avril Benoit, CEO of Doctors Without Borders, thank you for joining us.

BENOIT: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

*NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio record.

*Enrichment Data:[1] Humanitarian Practice Network. (2017). Humanitarian Principles: What they are and why they matter. Overseas Development Institute, Retrieved from https://www.humanitarianprinciples.org/documents/humanitarian-principles/

[2] European External Action Service. (2015). EU response to the Gaza Crisis. Retrieved from https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/7707/eu-response-gaza-crisis_en

[3] Save the Children. (2014). Conflict and Crises Overview. Retrieved from https://www.savethechildren.org/content/savethechildren/en/what-we-do/emergencies/conflict-and-crises.html

[4] Doctors Without Borders. (2020). Gaza – To the Brink. Retrieved from https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/explore/countries/palestine-israel/gaza?age=1*

1. The ongoing violence in Gaza, as witnessed by Avril Benoit, CEO of Doctors Without Borders, raises concerns about the government's handling of health-and-wellness issues, particularly medical-conditions, given the chaotic distribution of food aid and Israeli military involvement.
2. In contrast to conventional humanitarian aid distribution methods in conflict zones, the current food distribution system in Gaza, administered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation with US backing, has been criticized for politicizing aid and causing chaos due to its harsh regulations and military interference.
3. Science, specifically the application of humanitarian principles, plays a significant role in addressing the crisis in Gaza, as adherence to these principles – such as impartiality, expertise, and non-politicization – could lead to more effective health services, food distribution, and overall improvement in general-news and health-and-wellness conditions.

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