Australian UNICEF aid worker in Gaza, Tess Ingram, has recounted the moment when her convoy was hit by live ammunition while waiting at a checkpoint in Gaza.
The spokesperson of UNICEF, Ingram, was in the three-car convoy that was part of a coordinated mission between UNICEF and UNWRA to deliver fuel, nutrition and medical supplies to affected areas in the North of Gaza when their vehicles were hit by gunfire, SBS News reported.
Ingram said that early on Tuesday morning, when waiting at the checkpoint, gunfire from the direction of the checkpoint came towards civilians.
She recalled, “The gunfire came from the direction of the checkpoint, towards civilians who then ran away from the checkpoint, and the gunfire hit us.”
Ingram further shared, “We were really lucky. We had some colleagues outside of the car checking a mechanical problem with the nutrition truck when the [gun]fire broke out… Fortunately, they were safe, but three bullets hit the car that I was in, right on my passenger door, the window and also the bonnet of the car."
UNICEF condemned the incident and said in a statement, “Unless humanitarian aid workers are protected, in accordance with (international humanitarian law), humanitarian aid cannot reach people in need.”
The Australian government spokesperson told SBS News, “Australia is deeply concerned by these reports and is urgently seeking more information… Wartime does not remove the responsibility for observing international law."
