UN warns Gaza aid falls short due to Israeli restrictions
According to briefings from UN humanitarian officials, aid organizations remain focused on supporting the most vulnerable households, but their efforts are increasingly constrained.
Speaking at a press conference, a UN spokesperson said that “the UN and our partners continue to deliver assistance to the most vulnerable families,” while cautioning that “needs continue to outpace the ability of humanitarians to respond, given the ongoing impediments they face.”
The situation has been further aggravated by worsening weather conditions. “Rainstorms and colder temperatures are also exacerbating the situation across the Strip,” the spokesperson added.
As stated in reports, between Thursday and Saturday, humanitarian partners working on emergency shelter assistance distributed “3,800 tents, nearly 4,600 tarpaulins, and thousands of bedding items to some 4,800 families.” Aid agencies are also attempting to mitigate risks to infant health, with efforts underway to address “the growing risks of hypothermia in newborns, with tailored kits that are locally procured and prepared for distribution.” Officials said that “these kits will be provided to mothers and caregivers with newborn and very young children.”
Despite these efforts, overall aid deliveries have declined. The UN spokesperson noted: “Since Friday, and due to ongoing restrictions affecting our ability to bring in sufficient volumes of aid, our partners have once again had to reduce the assistance being provided.”
Under the scaled-back assistance plan, families now receive “one food parcel, one bag of flour, and 1.5 kilograms of high-energy biscuits,” which officials said “covers half of the minimum caloric needs per family for the remainder of the month.”
Humanitarian officials again raised alarms about access barriers, stating: “OCHA once again warns that impediments continue to hamper our ability to accelerate the scale-up of the humanitarian response,” and emphasizing that “these impediments must be lifted, and access must be sustained to allow the UN and our partners to reach everyone in need.”
When questioned about the origin of these constraints, the spokesperson said: “A lot of these are restrictions that have come from the Israeli authorities,” adding that the UN “still don't have enough crossing points open,” along with limits on “what kind of items can come in.”
Staffing challenges were also cited as a factor reducing aid capacity. “There have been restrictions placed on the visas of different organizations, including the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), but also other international NGOs,” the spokesperson said.
Although a ceasefire came into effect on Oct. 10, humanitarian officials say conditions on the ground have not significantly improved. Strict controls on aid truck entry have continued, which officials describe as inconsistent with the humanitarian provisions of the ceasefire arrangement.
According to reports, Israeli military operations since October 2023 have resulted in nearly 70,700 deaths in Gaza, most of them women and children, and more than 171,100 injuries. These attacks have continued despite the truce, further straining an already overwhelmed humanitarian system.
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