Update following incident at Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) premises in Gaza City
Around 40 armed individuals confronted NRC staff and contingent workers at one of our premises in Gaza City on 24 September, during preparations to relocate contingency supplies for operational needs.
The group questioned the movement of these items, particularly fuel, and after rejecting staff explanations, forcibly took a portion of the stock before departing. Approximately 250 litres, as well as a number of food parcels and water bottles, were seized.
All NRC staff and workers at the site are safe and accounted for. The remaining supplies were successfully relocated to the south. These items were a small contingency stock of fuel, water, and basic kits kept in Gaza City to support the continuation of services in the north, relocations, and operational continuity, especially in light of recent displacement orders affecting multiple NRC premises.
Preliminary reports also indicate that armed individuals seized site maintenance materials from a displacement site supported by NRC. We are investigating this matter further.
We have reported these incidents through the relevant humanitarian coordination mechanisms, where agencies share security and access concerns to help reduce risks to the aid community.
Theft and interference with humanitarian supplies cannot be tolerated. Every litre of fuel and every parcel of food or water help keep families alive in Gaza. All actors must respect and protect humanitarian operations and assets in line with international humanitarian law. What remains urgently needed is not only the protection of aid, but also a sustainable ceasefire that guarantees humanitarian organisations can deliver assistance safely, consistently, and at the scale required.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329