'Gaza has run out of fuel' and people's lives are on the brink: Norwegian Refugee Council

Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Jan Egeland warned of a fuel crisis in Gaza, after the besieged strip had "run out of fuel", and urged diplomats and donors to act.

In a post on X on Thursday, he said: "Gaza has run out of fuel. Reserves are gone. The last drops are being rationed to keep bare-minimum services alive. No fuel means no water, no food distribution, no health care, no telecoms - 2.1 million lives on the brink. This is no longer a logistical issue - it is life or death.

He said that NRC water trucks have dropped from 64 to 33 sites, reaching only 85,000 people with 4.5 litres per person per day, barely enough to drink, and far below the 15-litre survival standard.

He said that half the sites depend on a municipal water utility, which has just 10 days of fuel left, and after that, their water stops completely.

"Time is up," he added. "Donor states and diplomats must press Israel to allow immediate fuel. Fuel is not a side issue — it is the backbone of humanitarian aid. Denial will collapse the entire system, with catastrophic consequences for civilians. All man-made."