JERUSALEM (JTA) — A plastic bag shortage may mean the end of food distribution in Gaza, an aid organization said.
The distribution by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency may end Monday because there are not enough plastic bags to hand out the food, a UNRWA spokesman told the Jerusalem Post.
The shortage is caused by a restriction on imports of raw materials into Gaza out of fear they will be stolen by Hamas. The pellets used to manufacture the bags are on the restricted list.
The possible end of food distribution in Gaza follows UNRWA’s decision to suspend importing humanitarian aid into Gaza until Hamas returns 200 tons of aid, including food and blankets, it hijacked from a U.N. warehouse on Feb. 5. On Monday, however, the United Nations said it would resume the shipments after Hamas returned the aid.
