Gaza – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reports that Israeli authorities are preventing the entry of thousands of aid trucks into the Gaza Strip, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation.
According to UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna, approximately 6,000 trucks laden with essential supplies, including hundreds of thousands of tents, blankets, mattresses, winter clothing, and food, are being held up. These supplies are desperately needed by the civilian population, particularly as winter approaches.
Abu Hasna stated that the trucks contain enough food to sustain 1.4 million Palestinians in Gaza for three months. The agency is currently operating three main programs in the territory: education, health, and relief. Educational activities have resumed for 300,000 students in UNRWA schools and shelters, and the health sector is treating 15,000 patients daily.
The recent heavy rains have further exposed the fragility of the humanitarian situation, displacing tens of thousands of families. The ongoing conflict has reportedly destroyed 259,000 homes, leaving 1.5 million Palestinians displaced and living in the streets or makeshift shelters.
“The situation is critical,” Abu Hasna emphasized. UNRWA has re-established three clinics in Gaza City and operates numerous mobile medical points in the south, central areas, and refugee camps. The immediate priority is to provide clean water, medicine, and food to the affected population.
Reports from Gaza indicate that the displacement crisis is worsening, with approximately 1.5 million people living in tattered tents that have been damaged by wind and rain. The lack of basic services and essential supplies is compounding the suffering.
Official estimates suggest that around 93% of the tents used by displaced people are no longer suitable for habitation, with tens of thousands damaged by conflict and natural elements. The blockage of vital aid is severely hindering efforts to alleviate this crisis.
