UN slams US-backed aid system after shooting of 47
UN slams US-backed aid system after shooting of 47
A Palestinian spreads the aid he received at a distribution site run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in Rafah. Photo: Reuters
The United Nations on Wednesday condemned a US-backed aid system in Gaza after 47 people were injured during a chaotic food distribution that saw shots fired by the Israeli military.
The issue of aid has come sharply into focus amid a hunger crisis coupled with intense criticism of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a shadowy group that has bypassed the longstanding UN-led system in the territory.
With the war sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel entering its 600th day on Wednesday, Palestinians in Gaza felt there was no reason to hope for a better future.
In Israel, the relatives of people held hostage in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, attack longed for the return of their loved ones, with hundreds gathering in their name in Tel Aviv.
"Six hundred days have passed and nothing has changed. Death continues, and Israeli bombing does not stop," said Bassam Daloul, 40, adding that "even hoping for a ceasefire feels like a dream and a nightmare".
Daloul, who said his family has been displaced 20 times since the start of the war, pointed to shortages of everything from clean water and food to medicine and electricity.
On Tuesday, scenes of desperation and mayhem erupted at a GHF aid distribution centre in southern Gaza, with shots fired by the Israeli military as thousands of Palestinians rushed into the site.
According to the UN, 47 people were injured in the chaos while a Palestinian medical source said at least one had died.
The Israeli military said it fired warning shots, though Ajith Sunghay, the head of UN Human Rights Office in the Palestinian territories, said most of the wounded had been hurt by gunfire.
The UN has repeatedly hit out against the GHF, and Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, on Wednesday reiterated the criticism.
"I believe it is a waste of resources and a distraction from atrocities. We already have an aid distribution system that is fit for purpose," he said during a visit in Japan. (AFP)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Israel kills 38 Palestinians in Gaza near food distribution centres, says health ministry
At least 38 Palestinians were killed on Monday in new shootings in areas of food distribution centres in the south of the Gaza Strip, the local Health Ministry said. Advertisement The toll was the deadliest yet in the near-daily shootings that have taken place as thousands of Palestinians move through Israeli military-controlled areas to reach food centres run by the private contractor Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed aid group bypassing the longstanding UN-led system in the tiny enclave. Two witnesses said Israeli troops opened fire early on Monday in an attempt to control the crowds. There was no immediate comment by the Israeli military. It has said in previous instances that troops fired warning shots at what it calls 'suspects' approaching their positions. Gaza's Health Ministry said most of the dead were trying to reach the GHF centre near the southern city of Rafah, although a few were on the roads to a newly opened hub on the outskirts of the nearby city of Khan Younis. Advertisement Two Palestinians trying to get food at the Rafah site, Heba Jouda and Mohammed Abed, told the Associated Press that Israeli forces fired on the crowds at around 4am at the Flag Roundabout. The roundabout, hundreds of metres from the GHF centre, has repeatedly been the scene of shootings.
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Palestinian death toll surpasses 55,000 in ongoing Israel-Gaza war
The Palestinian death toll from the 20-month Israel-Gaza war has climbed past 55,000, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Wednesday. Advertisement The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but has said that women and children make up more than half the dead. It's a grim milestone in the war that began with Hamas' attack into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and shows no sign of ending. Israel says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing the militants of hiding among civilians because they operate in populated areas. The ministry says 55,104 people have been killed since the start of the war and 127,394 wounded. Many more are believed to be buried under the rubble or in areas that are inaccessible to local doctors. Israeli forces have destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced about 90 per cent of its population and in recent weeks have transformed more than half of the coastal territory into a military buffer zone that includes the now mostly uninhabited southern city of Rafah. Advertisement A 2½-month blockade imposed by Israel when it ended a ceasefire with Hamas raised fears of famine and was slightly eased in May. The launch of a new Israeli- and US-backed aid system has been marred by chaos and violence, and the UN says it has struggled to bring in food because of Israeli restrictions, a breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting.
Asia Times
11-06-2025
- Asia Times
A cure for Indonesia's ailing and corrupt health system
The Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN), Indonesia's single-payer health insurance, faces a looming deficit potentially amounting to 25 trillion rupiah (US$1.54 billion) as of 2025, the largest since BPJS Kesehatan (or BPJSK) began managing JKN in 2014. This alarming deficit has sparked public turmoil, with stakeholders suggesting solutions ranging from increasing monthly premiums to reducing coverage for smoking-related diseases. BPJS operates under mandates of UU 40/2004 and UU 24/2011, to administer JKN, Indonesia's universal health coverage program. JKN is financed through premiums: formal workers contribute 5% of their salaries, while informal workers pay according to one of three classes outlined in Perpres 64/2020. The government subsidizes premiums for the impoverished through the Minister of Health. When JKN users receive healthcare, facilities provide care and submit proof to BPJS for reimbursement. Additionally, primary health centers (Puskesmas) and clinics receive a per-person payment for each registered user, known as capitation payment. The models of Indonesia's national health insurance incorporate elements from two globally recognized health insurance models: the Beveridge model from England and the Bismarck model from Germany. The Beveridge model is seen in the National Health Service (NHS), which funds health insurance through government-owned services financed by tax. Conversely, the Bismarck model involves tax contributions deducted from salaries as part of the employee-employer contribution, applicable in both public or private sectors. JKN combines these approaches by collecting premiums through salary contributions and offering services to both the public and private sectors. Among the various factors driving the deficit, fraudulent activities within hospitals are particularly alarming. Several hospitals have been accused of creating false billing or shadow claims – a scheme often coordinated between the director and doctors in the hospital. However, these instances of misconduct represent more than isolated incidents; they are indicative of a deeper systemic issue characterized by an imbalance between funding and utilization of services. The tariffs set for hospitals providing JKN service, as determined by regulators, were considered insufficient by the hospitals themselves. Despite a revision in 2023, as indicated by the Ministry of Health Decree 3/2023, the updated tariffs were still perceived as inadequate. In response, the government increased the tariff in 2024, but only for Class A hospitals. This chronically underestimated tariff compels hospitals to adjust their practices. Some facilities discharged patients while still in compromised health—a practice that was eventually prohibited by BPJS. Moreover, certain hospitals engaged in patient 'cherry-picking' by selecting individuals with less severe conditions to reduce the length of stays and associated costs. Some seemingly unfortunate circumstances initially yielded positive outcomes for JKN and BPJSK, albeit briefly. During the Covid-19 pandemic, patients were compelled to stay at home to minimize the risk of contracting the virus. As a result, many refrained from using JKN services, which in turn relieved BPJS of the financial burden of hospital payments, ultimately leading to a surplus during the pandemic. However, as the pandemic subsided and service resumed, the usage of healthcare services rebounded. This resurgence increased BPJS's payments to hospitals, surpassing the expenditure levels during the pandemic. This complex phenomenon ultimately necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of the service provided under JKN by health facilities. It is essential to establish a transparent and timely surveillance and monitoring system focused on detecting fraudulent activities. Additionally, the formalization of entities responsible for managing fraud risks should be a priority. JKN has already set up a dedicated JKN Fraud Prevention team (Tim Pencegahan Kecurangan Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional ) , and it is essential to ensure both its operational capacity and robust governance to mitigate any potential conflict of interest. Beyond internal measures, external sanctions can also deter fraudulent activities. Current regulations allow for the revocation of medical permits for ethical violations. However, these primarily target individuals. Instituting broader institutional sanctions once fraud is proven can enhance accountability across the healthcare system. Indonesia's approach to managing its healthcare system must evolve to address both current inefficiencies and emerging challenges. This involves not only enhancing the integrity of financial transactions and service delivery within JKN but also fostering a healthcare ecosystem that supports ethical practices and robust financial management. As Indonesia navigates its path towards sustainable healthcare, the integration of stringent financial controls, coupled with an ethical healthcare delivery system, will be paramount. By reinforcing the structural and ethical foundations of its national insurance system, Indonesia can ensure that JKN not only survives but thrives, providing comprehensive and equitable healthcare coverage to all its citizens. The journey ahead is complex, but with concerted effort and strategic reforms, Indonesia can hopefully transform its healthcare landscape into a model for other developing nations and ultimately achieve universal health coverage amidst financial constraints and operational challenges. Ryan Rachmad Nugraha is an assistant professor at the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, specializing in primary care management. Ahmad Novindri Aji Sukma is an Indonesian Lawyer and PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge, specializing in Law & Criminology.
