Humanitarian Needs In Gaza Overwhelming: UN

The office said that shelter partners distributed tarpaulins to more than 11,000 families in northern Gaza over the weekend.

Humanitarian needs in Gaza remain overwhelming, even as a ceasefire holds, according to reports from the United Nations and its partners. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) emphasized the urgent and sustained support required to address the scale of needs in the region. While aid continues to flow into Gaza, the ongoing Israeli military operations in the West Bank are still resulting in casualties.

OCHA highlighted that the Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported a critical shortage of oxygen supplies necessary for emergency, surgical, and intensive care services in hospitals across Gaza, including Al Shifa and Al Rantisi hospitals in Gaza City. Health partners are actively working with local authorities to bring in generators, spare parts, and equipment needed to produce oxygen locally, as the demand for medical supplies continues to rise.

In response to the dire conditions, shelter partners have distributed tarpaulins to over 11,000 families in northern Gaza. In Khan Younis, approximately 450 families received essential items such as sealing-off kits, kitchen sets, and hygiene kits at a displacement site in Al Mawasi. These efforts are crucial as many families have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict.

Education is another area of concern, with OCHA reporting that more than 250,000 individuals are enrolled in a distance learning program developed by the UN’s relief agency for Palestinian refugees. The conflict has severely impacted educational infrastructure, with reports indicating that 95 percent of school buildings have been damaged during hostilities. As a result, many students are forced to attend classes in makeshift tents and open spaces, enduring harsh winter temperatures.

In the West Bank, the situation is equally alarming. Since the Israeli military operations commenced on January 21, the most extensive in two decades, 36 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, with 25 fatalities occurring in Jenin and nearly a dozen in Tulkarm. These operations have led to high casualties and significant displacement, particularly in refugee camps. The destruction of critical infrastructure has further exacerbated humanitarian needs in the region.

OCHA has raised concerns regarding the tactics employed during these military operations, stating that the use of lethal, war-like methods raises questions about the adherence to law enforcement standards. The humanitarian office has also reported incidents of violence against Palestinian residents by Israeli settlers in several villages within the Nablus governorate. During one of these attacks, a house was set on fire, highlighting the ongoing tensions and violence in the area.

Humanitarian partners are mobilizing resources to support affected communities, but the challenges remain significant. The combination of ongoing military operations, infrastructure damage, and the urgent need for medical supplies and shelter underscores the critical situation facing both Gaza and the West Bank. As the international community continues to monitor the situation, the need for a comprehensive and sustained humanitarian response is more pressing than ever. The situation calls for immediate action to address the needs of those affected by the conflict and to ensure that essential services are restored and maintained.