According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), only 24% of the planned missions to deliver essential supplies such as food, medicine, and water were successful in reaching their destinations north of Wadi Gaza during the first two weeks of January. This amounts to seven out of 29 missions.

Reiterating these worries and emphasizing the grave circumstances throughout the region, Olga Cherevko, a worker from OCHA, stated that the living conditions for displaced individuals in the southern part of Gaza were also extremely poor.

On Tuesday, in a video shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), she mentioned that there are individuals who have not had a meal in several days. She also expressed concern for the children who do not have warm winter clothing and lack access to medical assistance. The magnitude of their needs is overwhelming.

Fuel, medicines refused

The most recent war update from OCHA, released on Sunday evening, mentioned that the majority of Israeli refusals were related to fuel and medical supplies intended for reservoirs, water wells, and health facilities located north of Wadi Gaza.

Insufficient resources for water, sanitation, and hygiene pose a higher threat to health and the environment. According to OCHA, the limited supply of medication has weakened the operations of six hospitals that are only partially functioning. OCHA also pointed out that there have been ongoing intense attacks from Israel by air, land, and sea, as well as clashes with Palestinian armed groups throughout most of the Gaza Strip. In addition, Palestinian armed groups have also been launching rockets into Israel.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, located in the southern region, is still receiving a large number of patients with injuries and burns.

Over-burdened

The hospital is currently at twice its usual capacity with 700 patients, and the ICU and burns unit are facing a severe shortage of staff, causing delays in critical treatment.

The UN Secretary-General, Mr. Guterres, issued a plea for a ceasefire to all involved parties on Monday. He also urged for the prompt and unconditional release of all hostages taken during the terror attacks on October 7th, as well as a thorough investigation into any reports of sexual violence by Palestinian militants.

Mr. Guterres stated that it is impossible to efficiently provide humanitarian assistance during the continuous and intense bombardment in Gaza. He also expressed his strong distress over the extensive destruction and unprecedented number of civilian casualties, which he had not seen during his time as Secretary-General.

He stated that although there have been efforts to improve the delivery of aid to Gaza, the essential relief needed by those who have suffered from ongoing attacks is not reaching them at a sufficient level.

The people of Gaza are being haunted by the persistent threat of starvation, as well as the risks of disease, malnutrition, and other health issues.

by the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unparalleled amount of damage to the food system.

On Tuesday, a news release from independent experts on human rights at the UN revealed that 80% of individuals at risk of famine or severe hunger worldwide are currently residing in Gaza.

According to a statement made by multiple UN Special Rapporteurs, the entire population of Gaza is currently experiencing hunger, with 25% of the population facing extreme starvation and difficulty accessing food and clean water. A famine is expected to occur in the near future.

A panel of specialists has cautioned that the 335,000 children under the age of five in Gaza are facing a significant risk of severe malnutrition. This puts an entire generation at risk for stunted growth.

The human rights advocates expressed their concern over Israel’s actions in Gaza, stating that it is unprecedented for a civilian population to be deprived of food in such a complete and rapid manner. They accused Israel of deliberately destroying Gaza’s food system and using food as a tool to harm the Palestinian people.

The rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council stated that Israel has effectively restricted access to agricultural land and the sea as a means of obtaining food.

Fertile land and vessels used for fishing were destroyed.

Israeli forces have reportedly destroyed around 22% of agricultural land in northern Gaza and allegedly destroyed 70% of Gaza’s fishing fleet.

Over 60% of homes in Gaza, occupied by Palestinians, have sustained damage which has hindered their ability to cook food. Experts have accused Israel of causing intentional destruction of homes, rendering the area unlivable.

Special Rapporteurs are members of the Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures. They do not receive payment for their duties and serve in their own personal capacity.

This information is from the United Nations news website.