Smuggling Pandemonium: Gaza's Growing Aid Delivery Crisis

Chaos is escalating in Gaza as smuggling bands complicate aid delivery, said UNRWA's head. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini highlighted a major breakdown in law and order, partly due to increased gang activity in cigarette smuggling. As a result, providing humanitarian aid has become increasingly difficult.

Chaos is taking hold in Gaza as smuggling bands form and add to the difficulties in delivering aid, the head of the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency said on Tuesday.

"Basically, we are confronted nowadays with a near total breakdown of law and order," UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told reporters, blaming in part an increase in gangs involved in cigarette smuggling.

"It's becoming more and more complicated (to deliver aid)," he added.