Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Worsens After aid Cut-off
Following Israel’s month-long cessation of humanitarian aid to Gaza, aid organizations report a severe deterioration in the humanitarian situation, exacerbated by ongoing Israeli military operations affecting two million residents.
The United Nations and various NGOs have highlighted the alarming spread of hunger, reduced access to clean water, and unsanitary conditions in makeshift displacement camps due to the intensified conflict resumed in March. This escalation coincides with evacuation orders leading to widespread displacements, with over 280,000 people reportedly relocated in the last two weeks, leaving two-thirds of Gaza’s territory as no-go areas.
Assem Al-Nabeeh, a representative from the Gaza City municipality, lamented that displaced individuals now occupy public parks, roads, and unsafe buildings due to the absence of adequate shelter. Even prior to these evacuation orders, only 40% of city residents had reliable access to water, amid an accumulation of approximately 175,000 tons of waste.
With the blockade halt on food and humanitarian aid directed to Gaza, reliance on local bakeries has plummeted, with all 25 subsidized bakeries having closed due to shortages of cooking gas and flour. The World Food Programme reported that over one million residents went without food parcels in March, and while hot meals were briefly available, supplies are now minimal.
Impacts on Healthcare and Living Conditions
The humanitarian aid coordination agency COGAT emphasized the need for a structured mechanism to monitor aid deliveries, ensuring humanitarian supplies reach civilians without being diverted. However, much-needed aid continues to accumulate at the borders as conditions inside Gaza worsen, with skyrocketing food prices threatening further access.
Water access remains critically limited, with two-thirds of the population lacking sufficient drinking water. As sanitation conditions in overcrowded shelters become dire, public health remains a concern, highlighted by reports from UNICEF noting daily casualties among children and an overwhelming influx of the injured in hospitals amid severely strained resources.
The director of Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, Dr. Fadel Naeem, revealed that the hospital’s capacity is being exceeded as it processes up to 400 patients daily, necessitating prioritization of treatment based on survival likelihood. The UN Relief and Works Agency chief expressed the grim reality of starving residents amid chaos, reflecting the overall exhaustion and despair pervasive in the region.
