Louise Wateridge from UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, described living conditions in the Gaza Strip as “extremely dire” and “unbearable.” Speaking via video link from central Gaza to reporters in Geneva, Wateridge shared her observations after returning from four weeks outside the territory, noting significant deterioration.
“It’s the worst it’s ever been, and it continues to get worse,” Wateridge said. Nearly nine months into the Israeli war on Gaza, she reported the region as “destroyed.” In Khan Yunis, buildings are reduced to skeletons and rubble, yet people continue to live there without water, sanitation, or food. Residents use sheets to cover gaps in blown-out walls and relieve themselves wherever possible due to the lack of bathrooms.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed over 37,765 people, primarily women and children. Wateridge highlighted that fuel shortages are crippling aid delivery. “Without fuel, the humanitarian response halts,” she explained, noting she was speaking from a guesthouse due to a lack of fuel for missions. She described a 100,000-tonne waste pile near her location, with makeshift tents around it, exacerbating the misery as temperatures rise.
