Gaza – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with needs far exceeding the capacity of the humanitarian community to respond. This assessment comes amidst ongoing obstacles faced by the UN, two years after the last major conflict.
According to the UN, these obstacles include persistent insecurity, customs clearance difficulties, delays and rejections of goods at crossing points by Israeli authorities, and limitations on available routes for transporting humanitarian supplies within Gaza. These restrictions pose a significant challenge to the efforts of the UN and its partners to provide adequate shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene supplies, and educational materials.
OCHA warned that restrictions on access and movement within Gaza remain a “serious problem.” Between October 13th and December 4th, Israeli authorities reportedly denied 295 contractors, 28 UN staff members, and 21 healthcare workers from participating in UN missions inside Gaza, averaging nearly seven denied missions per day.
The UN office emphasized that these denials disrupt humanitarian planning and force the UN and its partners to make last-minute adjustments that may reduce capacity or lead to the complete cancellation of missions if replacements cannot be found. This situation critically impacts the ability to deliver essential aid to those in need.
The United Nations reiterated its call for unimpeded access for humanitarian personnel, goods, and services. It urged the lifting of all barriers to allow the UN and its partners to scale up assistance and reach everyone in need. The current limitations severely hamper efforts to address the growing humanitarian crisis within the Gaza Strip.
