“There is simply not enough food,” UNRWA tweeted on social platform X, formerly Twitter, with photographs from another city slightly further north, Deir-al-Balah, showing people queuing “in the rain and cold” for relief supplies.

According to the most recent update from the UN’s aid coordination office, OCHA, there is intense combat taking place near two hospitals in Khan Younis. Médecins Sans Frontières has stated that many injured patients at Nasser Hospital have limited access to medical care due to the ongoing conflict and bombing. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has also reported ongoing bombing in the surrounding area of Al Amal Hospital.

According to OCHA, there were also accounts of Palestinians escaping to the southern city of Rafah, which is already heavily populated, due to the absence of a secure route. The organization also observed ongoing rocket attacks from Gaza towards southern Israel.

Collusion probe 

In the face of grave accusations that multiple employees conspired with Hamas during the 7 October assaults on Israel, UNRWA reaffirmed its commitment to assisting Gazans as the primary aid group in the region.

The United Nations has initiated an investigation through its top investigative unit, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). On Sunday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that any UN staff member responsible for acts of terror will face consequences.

Out of the 12 individuals believed to be involved, nine were promptly recognized and their agreements with UNRWA were ended. One employee was verified deceased and the identities of the other two are currently being clarified.

On January 17th, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini announced a comprehensive and unbiased evaluation of the agency.

Meanwhile, Mr. Guterres urged the countries that halted funding to the UNRWA to reconsider their choices and ensure the continuation of its crucial humanitarian work.

Famine looms

In agreement with this plea, Director-General of the United Nations World Health Organization, Tedros, stated on X Sunday that ceasing funding for UNRWA would have a negative impact on the citizens of Gaza.

After almost four months of continuous bombing by Israeli forces, people are now at risk of starvation, illness, and being forced to leave their homes. This was caused by terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and over 250 people being held captive.

On Saturday, Mr. Lazzarini cautioned that the UN agency, which supports over two million individuals in Gaza, is on the verge of collapse and their survival is at stake.

UNRWA usually has 13,000 staff serving Palestinian communities in Gaza. Today some 3,000 continue to work in a war zone, tasked with running shelters for over one million people, providing food and healthcare to civilians in dire need since the start of the conflict. 

According to the UN aid coordination wing OCHA, the current death toll in Gaza since October 7th is over 26,420 people. This data comes from the enclave’s health ministry. The Israeli military has reported that 220 soldiers have died in clashes and over 1,260 have been injured.

“The residents of Gaza have been facing unimaginable suffering and lack of basic necessities for several months,” stated Martin Griffiths, the top emergency humanitarian official for the United Nations, on X. “Their needs are at an all-time high, and our ability to provide humanitarian aid is facing unprecedented challenges. We must do everything in our power to give the people of Gaza a glimmer of hope.”

Source: news.un.org