These people are starving to death. More people will die by suspending operations than by continuing even with a gunshot having been fired.
There have been many instances of rescue workers being shot at. I've been watching the news and they have talked of police being fired on as well as volunteer rescue workers in boats being fired upon. Buses and cars have been hijacked at gun point. I just read that some reporters have hired security because they are scared. One reporter was warned by a police officer to hide his bottle of water or he would be mugged. The safety of rescue workers has to be taken into consideration.