900 obstacles and counting: West Bank families trapped as aid access shrinks

Humanitarians continue to provide life-saving assistance to people across the Occupied Palestinian Territory despite facing obstacles such as checkpoints, instability and access restrictions, the United Nations said on Friday. In the West Bank, aid partners warn that their work “is being delayed and limited by a network of over 900 physical obstacles – including checkpoints, gates, roadblocks and other restrictions,” UN Associate Spokesperson Daniela Gross told journalists in New York. On Friday, humanitarian and municipal workers were struggling to secure access to three Palestinian families in Qusra village near Nablus who have been trapped since Tuesday following the establishment of a settlement next to their homes and the tightening of access restrictions in the area. Serve and protectThe UN human rights office, OHCHR, previously warned that “time is running out” before the families are forcibly displaced. Ms. Gross said UN partners and municipal workers had been trying to deliver food, water, milk formula, medicines and hygiene items to them, without success. “Our colleagues warn that efforts to protect Palestinians have been ineffective, with settlers reportedly reinstalling...