The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned of the deteriorating catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza due to repeated waves of displacement, overcrowding conditions, insecurity, infrastructure collapse, continuing hostilities, and limited services.
According to the United Nations Media Center, and according to humanitarian workers in Gaza, the recent Israeli evacuation order affected approximately 13,500 Palestinians in 18 locations, including all areas of the Maghazi camp and several other neighborhoods in Deir al-Balah.
OCHA warned that the continuation of hostilities and evacuation orders, coupled with a severe shortage of essential materials, increases the difficulty for displaced families to access basic services at the sites they reach.
Since last October, 86% of the Gaza Strip has been placed under evacuation orders, and most of Gaza’s population—increasingly—is concentrated in an area designated by the Israeli authorities in Al-Mawasi.
According to OCHA, the population density in this area has increased to between 33,000 and 34,000 people per square kilometer, compared to about 200 people before October.
United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric mentioned that the acute fuel shortage is forcing hospitals to postpone necessary surgical operations and threatens to stop the operation of ambulances, especially in northern Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has been worsening, especially since the escalation of the conflict over ten months ago. The UN has highlighted a series of compounding crises, including repeated waves of displacement, severe overcrowding, crumbling infrastructure, and limited access to essential services like healthcare and clean water.
The situation is particularly dire with regard to medical and fuel supplies, with hospitals struggling to function and having to postpone necessary surgeries due to fuel shortages. This has also impacted ambulance services, crucial for dealing with the high casualty rates from ongoing hostilities.
Additionally, the water crisis remains a critical issue, with destruction to Gaza’s water and sanitation network leading to severe shortages. The availability of clean drinking water is dangerously low, forcing many to rely on unsanitary water sources, which increases the risk of disease outbreaks. There has been a call for urgent mass polio vaccinations following the detection of the disease in the area.
The humanitarian community, including UN agencies, continues to push for ceasefires to allow for the delivery of essential supplies and services to those affected. The international community remains concerned about the escalating human toll and the deepening humanitarian crisis.
