Death Caused by Air-Dropped Food Package Debris
Gaza Refugees Say "We Want Dignity, Not Aid"
A tragic incident occurred in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, where a 3-year-old child died amid ongoing war. The child reportedly died after being hit by debris while watching relief supplies falling from the sky.
On the 22nd (local time), the US CNN reported that a Palestinian boy, Sami Ayad (3), died three days ago after being struck by a wooden plank in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in southern Gaza Strip.
Ayad's grandfather explained the situation in an interview with the media, saying, "Relief supplies fell while we were having breakfast," and "I was sitting with my grandson, but when I briefly stepped away, the relief supplies fell on him." Ayad, who was watching the falling relief supplies, was hit by a wooden plank used for transport and died.
Ayad's grandfather lamented, "There is no hospital here. I ran like crazy holding my injured grandson, but he eventually died." Ayad's father also said, "My son was standing while I told him to look at the parachute," and "My son saw the parachute coming close and ran away." It is reported that Ayad's family also suffered injuries from the falling relief supplies. Ayad's aunt and cousins were injured by debris hitting their faces or feet.
Currently, the international community is dropping relief supplies from aircraft to the isolated Gaza Strip refugees. This was a measure to address the food crisis faced by the refugees, but the unexpected tragedy has increased the refugees' anger.
Ayad's grandfather said, "We do not want help. We want dignity," adding, "We are insulted and shamed not only by Israel but also by Arab countries, and this is enough now. They show us no mercy." Ayad's uncle emphasized, "Our lives are nothing but shame, death, and fear," and "We are human beings, not animals that need food dropped from the sky."
On the 14th, local Palestinian residents in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, are inspecting the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Israeli authorities stated that on the day Ayad died, an aircraft from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) dropped 81 food packages from the air. CNN contacted UAE authorities but did not receive a response. However, wooden boxes marked with the UAE flag were found in the refugee camp.
Currently, the relief supply drop operations are being conducted by the US, UK, UAE, and others. According to statistics from the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), a Palestinian civilian affairs organization under Israeli control, about 10,000 relief supplies have been air-dropped into the Gaza Strip over the past several months. However, the number of relief supplies that can be provided by air drop is extremely limited compared to the number of refugees, and sometimes the supplies fall in the wrong areas, posing a threat to the refugees.
At one point, the US and British militaries also considered transporting large amounts of relief supplies through amphibious landing operations along the coast. In mid-May, a large mobile pier approached the Gaza Strip coast, but installation failed due to worsening weather conditions. Ultimately, the US military officially announced the end of the operation in July. Human rights organizations appeal that opening the land routes controlled by the Israeli military is the only way to solve the food crisis.
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