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The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Tuesday that Gaza is currently experiencing its longest pause in the delivery of aid and commercial goods since the onset of the ongoing conflict in October 2023.
“At this moment, we are witnessing perhaps the most severe humanitarian crisis during the entire duration of the war in Gaza,” remarked OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke during a news conference in Geneva.
More than 2.1 million residents of Gaza are grappling with critical shortages of essential supplies, including food, medicine, fuel, and clean drinking water.
Conversely, significant quantities of humanitarian aid are awaiting transport at the border, featuring close to 3,000 trucks filled with critical supplies prepared by the Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA). However, Israeli authorities are currently blocking entry.
Humanitarian Crisis: A Manufactured Calamity
“The situation regarding hunger is escalating and becoming increasingly severe – it is a deliberate and man-made crisis,” stated UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini in a public declaration.
“Gaza has transformed into a place of despair… humanitarian aid is being exploited as a tool for negotiation and conflict.”
The agency has cautioned that the availability of supplies within Gaza has nearly diminished, with food inventories alarmingly low and only 250 food parcels remaining.
Flour supplies have been exhausted, leading to bakery closures, while hospitals are facing critical challenges due to a lack of fuel and medical supplies, resulting in skyrocketing prices for essential products.
“Two million individuals – predominantly women and children – are experiencing a form of collective punishment,” Lazzarini remarked.
“It is imperative that the siege is lifted, that supplies are permitted entry, that hostages are freed, and that a ceasefire is reinstated.”
Ongoing Humanitarian Efforts
In spite of these dire circumstances, UNRWA is actively maintaining its operations in the region, facilitating the provision of water, managing waste collection, and offering crucial health services.
Currently, eight health centers and 39 medical points are delivering approximately 15,000 consultations each day. Additionally, a blood donation campaign is in progress to assist local hospitals struggling with a critical need for transfusions.
Source
news.un.org