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Dire Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds in Gaza

In a recent briefing to the press in Gaza City, Jonathan Whittall, OCHA‘s local Head of Office, described the current conditions in Gaza as part of a severe crisis due to what he termed a “total and complete blockade” that is now nearing the three-month mark.

“The next few days will prove pivotal for Gaza. Currently, survival is at stake; those not falling victim to violence are facing slow, agonizing hardships,” Whittall stated.

The head of OCHA highlighted that humanitarian organizations are struggling to address the escalating needs of civilians, primarily due to disrupted supply lines. Hospitals are overwhelmed and deprived of necessary medical supplies and equipment, while food scarcity grows as warehouses run dry and bakeries shut down due to a lack of resources. Access to clean water is severely limited as wells become inaccessible.

Waste is accumulating in the streets with no means for removal, and rescue operations following airstrikes are thwarted by a lack of fuel and machinery. Displaced families are compelled to seek shelter in ruins, while fishermen face gunfire at sea, leaving humanitarian groups unable to offer assistance. “Today, nowhere in Gaza is safe,” he lamented.

Whittall also pointed out that educational opportunities are slipping away, with schools either destroyed or unreachable, and essential educational materials unavailable. As prices for remaining goods skyrocket, the population struggles with scarcity of cash, cooking gas, and fuel, forcing families to resort to burning trash for energy.

“This situation transcends mere humanitarian needs; it’s about preserving human dignity. Current conditions represent an assault on the dignity of the people in Gaza,” he warned.

He went on to emphasize the need for the protection of humanitarian workers, journalists, and all civilians during this conflict, as they face deadly risks. “Those of us on the ground are being killed in a war that seems to have no boundaries,” he noted.

Whittall conveyed the disturbing reality that the situation in Gaza appears to be a systematic dismantling of Palestinian life, visible for all to witness and document. He recounted harrowing daily scenes, including children harmed by explosions, families consumed by fire, and the steady loss of colleagues, referring to these experiences as “everyday atrocities.”

“As humanitarian workers, we see the denial of aid as a form of weaponization,” he cautioned. “There is no justification for obstructing humanitarian assistance, which should never be treated as a weapon.”

Despite the dire circumstances, he affirmed that humanitarian groups continue their efforts wherever feasible. However, he noted that their resources are dwindling rapidly, resulting in a shrinking capacity to meet the growing humanitarian demands across Gaza.

Whittall emphasized the urgent need for the blockade to be lifted, aid to be permitted into Gaza, and a ceasefire to be reinstated, calling for meaningful accountability instead of allowing history to dictate the consequences for the global community’s inaction.

Surge in Hunger and Malnutrition

In an additional update, OCHA cautioned about a significant decline in food supplies throughout Gaza, with malnutrition rates rising sharply, particularly among children.

A recent assessment conducted by a UN partner organization revealed that out of approximately 1,300 children screened in northern Gaza, over 80 were found to suffer from acute malnutrition, doubling the rate identified in prior weeks.

“Nutrition partners report critical shortages of essential supplies due to the blockade halting aid entry and difficulties in transporting vital materials within Gaza,” OCHA stated. Access to significant facilities, including UNICEF’s primary warehouse in Rafah, remains heavily restricted.

This week, journalists visiting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) found its main warehouses largely devoid of food supplies, including flour.

A Call for Accountability and Action

“No circumstances can excuse the collective punishment imposed on the Palestinian people,” UNRWA asserted in a separate declaration, underscoring that international law forbids indiscriminate assaults, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and the devastation of critical civilian infrastructure.

The agency reiterated its plea for an immediate ceasefire, the dignified release of all hostages, and the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid and commercial goods into Gaza.

Source
news.un.org