Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies: Israel Blocks Aid in Gaza as UN Appeals for Access and Ceasefire

Urgent Plea for Peace: UN Demands Unhindered Aid Access in Gaza Amidst Intensifying Humanitarian Crisis

ANJAN SARMA

In the shadow of unrelenting conflict, the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has reached a critical juncture. For five months, the northern reaches of Gaza have been engulfed in turmoil, with Israeli forces placing severe impediments on the delivery of much-needed aid to the famine-stricken enclave.

The international community, led by the United Nations, has sounded the alarm, calling for unfettered access and an immediate ceasefire to mitigate the growing destruction and despair among civilians.

Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies: Israel Blocks Aid in Gaza as UN Appeals for Access and Ceasefire — **© UNICEF/Eyad El Baba** Children walk through the streets of Rafah in southern Gaza

Despite the urgency of these appeals, including a United Nations Security Council resolution and a directive from the highest UN court, Israel’s blockade remains steadfast. The blockade’s consequences are proving to be fatal, with more than a dozen Palestinians perishing in their desperate attempts to secure aid from airdrops carried out by various nations.

Tragically, their lives were claimed by drowning in the attempt to retrieve food packages from the sea or by being struck by the falling boxes of aid.

On the ground, UN agencies report a relentless continuation of airstrikes and attacks, reinforcing the dire need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The UN Palestine relief agency UNRWA‘s latest situation report paints a grim picture of the ongoing military operations by Israeli Security Forces (ISF) across the Gaza Strip. Civilian casualties, displacement, and the destruction of houses and critical infrastructure are escalating.

Since the conflict’s inception in October, the death toll in Gaza has risen to over 32,000, following a Hamas-led incursion into Israel that resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths and over 240 hostages.

Amidst the volatile situation, airstrikes and bombardments have not ceased, with particular focus on north Gaza, Khan Younis, and Rafah. Approximately 1.2 million people reside in these areas, with most seeking refuge in formal and informal shelters. Over 100 UNRWA schools, which have been providing shelter to displaced families, have been directly or indirectly affected by the conflict, with several sustaining severe damage.

UNRWA’s plea for a ceasefire echoes across social media, with a poignant message: “No place is safe in #GazaStrip. This is a war on children. On their childhood and their future. Ceasefire now.”

The challenges to aid access continue to severely limit humanitarian efforts to reach those affected in Gaza. Since the start of March, Israeli authorities have denied 30 percent of humanitarian missions to northern Gaza. The flow of humanitarian supplies entering Gaza remains grossly inadequate, falling short of the operational target of 500 trucks needed daily.

Despite these obstacles, UNRWA continues to provide storage and distribution capacity for the food and commodities of other agencies. Since the outbreak of war, 1.8 million Gazans have received flour, and nearly 600,000 have been given emergency food parcels.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is also providing critical food assistance to 1.45 million people in Gaza but acknowledges that the aid is far from sufficient. The WFP’s stark warning emphasizes that “Without a ceasefire and full access, lives are at risk.”

Recent reports suggesting an Israeli plan to dismantle UNRWA have been met with strong resistance from the UN. Senior UN officials in the region and the UN Secretary-General have not received any such plan. The UN Spokesperson has reaffirmed the organization’s stance on UNRWA as a beacon of hope for millions of Palestinians, including those in Gaza, and as an indispensable part of the ongoing humanitarian operation.

gaza3 — **© UNICEF/Eyad El Baba** People carry their possessions through Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip

UN Emergency Humanitarian Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths has condemned any attempts to restrict UNRWA’s lifesaving work, emphasizing that the agency’s role is crucial and that any attempt to distribute aid without its involvement is doomed to fail. The call to protect hospitals has also been amplified by WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who reported that at least four people were killed and 17 injured after an Israeli airstrike hit Al-Aqsa Hospital. The WHO’s presence at the hospital during the strike underscored the need for the protection of patients, health personnel, and humanitarian missions.

As the situation in Gaza remains on a knife-edge, France’s Ambassador to the UN Nicolas de Rivière has implored the Security Council to take more decisive action to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian conditions.

A new draft resolution presented by France calls for an immediate and unlimited ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages. The draft also condemns the terror attacks by Hamas on October 7 and demands full humanitarian access, signifying a concerted effort to resolve the crisis in Gaza.

gaza5 — **© UNICEF/Sonia Silva** Al-Shifa Hospital in the north of Gaza lies in ruins.

The international community must heed the call for immediate humanitarian access and a ceasefire in Gaza. The UN’s appeals underscore the critical situation and the imperative to adhere to international humanitarian law. A sustainable solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict and ensures the dignity and rights of all affected individuals is vital. The urgency of providing aid, establishing a ceasefire, and working toward peace and stability in the region cannot be overstated.

Images from different sources

02-04-2024

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