GENEVA: The dire humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen, despite some aid convoys managing to enter the embattled enclave. The shortage of fuel remains a critical concern, as it threatens to disrupt essential services like hospitals and bakeries, leaving the population in a perilous situation.
UN agencies, along with dedicated aid workers, are working tirelessly to provide much-needed relief. However, they are confronted with the painful reality of having to reduce rations and prioritize the distribution of food and essential supplies to those most in need.
Alia Zaki, spokesperson for the World Food Programme (WFP), stressed the urgency of a humanitarian ceasefire. Such a ceasefire is not only vital for the safe passage of aid workers but also for the safety of the people they are trying to assist.
As the crisis escalates, the number of casualties in Gaza continues to rise. Recent reports from Palestinian authorities indicate that over 5,000 people have lost their lives, primarily due to the intensifying Israeli airstrikes. Shockingly, more than 62% of the fatalities are women and children, with over 15,000 individuals injured.
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The situation is further compounded by the fact that over 1,000 people are reported missing and presumed to be trapped or deceased under the rubble, according to the UN humanitarian aid coordination office, OCHA.
On the Israeli side, OCHA reported that around 1,400 people have lost their lives, mainly due to the Hamas attacks that triggered the latest conflict. This death toll surpasses three times the cumulative number of Israeli casualties recorded since 2005.
Amidst the crisis, at least 212 Israeli and foreign nationals are being held captive in Gaza, with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres repeatedly calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
In a glimmer of hope, a new aid convoy entered Gaza from Egypt, the third such delivery since the Rafah border crossing reopened, following intense diplomatic efforts. However, to meet the soaring humanitarian needs, at least 100 aid trucks per day are required.
Yet, UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) warned that it is on the verge of running out of fuel within three days, further jeopardizing the humanitarian response. Without fuel, essential services such as water supply, hospitals, and bakeries will come to a halt, adding to the suffering of Gaza’s children, women, and people.
The crisis has also severely impacted education, with over 625,000 children in Gaza deprived of schooling for over 12 days. Numerous schools, including UNRWA-run establishments, have been damaged. In the occupied West Bank, the situation has resulted in restrictions on access to education, affecting hundreds of thousands of students.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to unfold, and the urgency for assistance and intervention remains paramount.
