Thousands of Gazans stormed warehouses and distribution centers of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), grabbing flour and “basic survival items,” the United Nations agency said today.

“Thousands of people stormed UNRWA warehouses and distribution centers in the central and southern parts of the Gaza Strip,” the UN agency said.

“This is a worrying sign that public order is beginning to break down after three weeks of war and a severe siege in Gaza,” UNRWA said in a statement.

Since October 9, Israel has imposed a “total blockade” on Gaza, cutting off supplies of water, electricity and food to the Palestinian enclave, which is home to 2.4 million residents and has been under Israeli blockade since 2007. Only 84 trucks with humanitarian aid have been able to reach Gaza via Egypt since 21 October.