United Nations: The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening rapidly, with United Nations officials warning of deepening starvation and near-total collapse of essential services amid ongoing military operations that continue to inflict death and destruction.
"Life is being drained out of Gaza, as systems and services are on the verge of collapse," said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday. The agency confirmed that local health authorities reported two more deaths from starvation just the previous day.
OCHA expressed grave concern that the combination of hunger and malnutrition is drastically increasing susceptibility to illness, particularly among vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and those suffering from chronic diseases. “The consequences can turn deadly fast,” it stated.
Food scarcity is having especially severe impacts on pregnant and breastfeeding women, whose babies are now more likely to be born with significant health complications, the agency added.
Despite some humanitarian supplies entering the Gaza Strip, OCHA made clear that the quantities are grossly inadequate to meet the enormous and growing needs. The situation remains dire, and the limited access to food, fuel, and other essentials continues to hinder life-saving aid.
According to a report by The Times of Israel, citing an Israeli military civil affairs unit, Israel will now allow Jordan and the United Arab Emirates to carry out coordinated airdrops of humanitarian supplies into Gaza, in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Welcoming this move, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' associate spokesperson, Stephanie Tremblay, emphasised that airlifts, while appreciated, are not a substitute for road access. “We reiterate that the most efficient way to bring in supplies is by road. This is why it is imperative that aid is allowed to enter through all crossings and via all available corridors,” she said.
Meanwhile, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has addressed a letter to the head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a US-run, Israeli-supported system that delivers aid through four militarised hubs, replacing the UN’s traditional 400 community-based distribution points.
Fletcher stressed the UN’s readiness to work with any partner committed to ensuring critical aid reaches the people of Gaza. However, he made it clear that such partnerships must adhere to globally recognised humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.
“Aid must go where the needs are greatest, without discrimination. Humanitarians answer to civilians in need, not to the warring parties,” he stated.
OCHA reiterated that safe, sustained humanitarian access is still absent. Aid workers continue to face extreme risks, border crossings remain unreliable, and essential items are frequently blocked.
"If Israel opens the crossings, lets fuel and equipment in, and allows humanitarian staff to operate safely, the United Nations will accelerate the delivery of food aid, health services, clean water, waste management, nutrition supplies, and shelter materials," OCHA said.
It added that restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities continue to significantly hinder humanitarian response efforts. Of 15 attempts to coordinate aid movements within Gaza on Thursday, four were denied outright and three were impeded. Fuel supplies entering Gaza remain far below the level required to operate critical facilities.
With IANS inputs