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UN Urges Immediate Action as Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening at an alarming pace, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists during a press briefing at UN Headquarters on Thursday.
“Children are going hungry, patients are left without care, and lives are being lost,” Dujarric said. “It is time to lift those restrictions immediately.”
Supply Chain Disruptions Driving Prices Sky-High
Recent restrictions on the flow of essential goods have caused skyrocketing prices — in some cases surging by as much as 1,400 percent compared to costs prior to the ceasefire. Basic necessities like dairy products, eggs, fruits, and meat have largely vanished from Gaza’s markets.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), prices in April alone increased by 50 percent from the previous month. A combination of severe cash shortages and drastically reduced purchasing power is forcing more families into deepening hunger.
Dire Conditions Witnessed Firsthand
UN Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Suzanna Tkalec, visited Deir al Balah and Khan Younis on Wednesday to evaluate conditions on the ground.
In Khan Younis, the UN team inspected the region’s main desalination plant, which has been operating at only 15 percent capacity since early March due to ongoing electricity shortages imposed by Israeli authorities. This has left access to clean water critically low.
The team also visited two overcrowded displacement sites and a community kitchen in Deir al Balah operated by the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children. The kitchen provides meals and vocational training for women, youth, and people with disabilities.
Shelter Supplies Nearly Exhausted
Dujarric also highlighted that aid organizations are running dangerously low on essential supplies like tents and tarpaulins. “Warehouses are nearly empty, which severely limits the shelter support we can offer — currently far below what’s needed for people to survive,” he said.
Despite the constraints, UN agencies continue working to deliver critical assistance. This week, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) distributed 10 reproductive health kits — sufficient to support more than 6,900 people — to six partner organizations and key hospitals. Additionally, over 900 women and girls received dignity kits, and about 240 sessions were held addressing gender-based violence, with 200 new cases now being supported.
Demand for Accountability in Deadly UN Incident
Dujarric also addressed the 19 March airstrike in Gaza that killed a UN staff member and injured at least five others. He confirmed that Israeli officials had shared the findings of their internal investigation with the UN.
“We are seeing more cooperation and transparency than we have in previous incidents,” he said. “But accountability and transparency remain essential — not only for this case but for every similar event.”
He reiterated calls for all parties in the conflict to fully adhere to international humanitarian law, emphasizing the obligation to protect civilians as well as UN and humanitarian personnel.
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Image credit: European Times / United Nations
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