Food and other necessities pre-positioned at UN schools, UN agency says

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) says it has been forced to close all its 14 food distribution centres- affecting half a million Palestinians.

After Israel says it will impose a "total blockade" on the besieged Gaza Strip, Tamara al-Rifai, spokesperson for the UNRWA, says food and other essential items have been pre-positioned at UN schools and shelters.

More than 120,000 people have been forced from their homes in the past three days during the heavy Israeli bombardment.

"We're able to receive up to 150,000 displaced people into our current structure. We're going to assess how long we can receive them for, give them food and other items we currently have," she said.

Al-Rifai added, however, that the 16-year-long blockade on Gaza has limited UNRWA's access to fuel and food.