UN Security Council Addresses Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

The United Nations Security Council convenes today for an open briefing to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The session is being held under the agenda item "The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question."

Gaza humanitarian crisis

Ten elected members of the Council requested this meeting to discuss the dire conditions in Gaza. Briefings are expected from the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, and a representative from an international non-governmental organization.

Despite an existing ceasefire, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza persists. The vast majority of Gaza's 2.1 million residents remain displaced, with many living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions lacking basic necessities. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported last Saturday that a lack of funding is threatening water supplies for 70% of the population who rely on trucked, bottled water.

During the meeting, Fletcher is expected to emphasize the urgent need for adequate humanitarian funding and appeal for contributions to OCHA's 2026 flash appeal for the occupied Palestinian territory, which has only received 24% of its funding target so far. Council members are also anticipated to stress the importance of mobilizing resources for Gaza's immense recovery and reconstruction needs. A joint assessment by the UN, European Union, and World Bank released in April estimated these costs at $71.4 billion over the next decade, including approximately $26.3 billion required in the first 18 months, for which the UN has sought to establish a new early recovery fund.

Related topics: Gaza, humanitarian crisis, UN Security Council, Palestine, OCHA, displaced persons

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