On Tuesday, the Humanitarian Country Team, comprising senior UN officials and over 200 aid groups, urged the international community to pressure Israeli authorities to revoke measures hindering humanitarian efforts, especially in Gaza.
The primary issue is a recently introduced registration system for international NGOs, criticized for being vague, politicized, and conflicting with humanitarian principles.
Current regulations could lead to the deregistration of numerous organizations by December’s end, followed by the closure of their operations.
“These organizations are essential,” the statement emphasized. “If they leave, the humanitarian response will collapse.”
International NGOs, in collaboration with UN agencies and Palestinian partners, provide about a billion dollars in aid annually. However, millions in food, medicine, hygiene supplies, and shelter materials remain outside Gaza, unable to reach those in need.
The alert arises as winter arrives, amid fears that more restrictions could destabilize a tenuous ceasefire.
Aid agencies highlighted that losing international NGOs would be a blow the UN or local groups can’t absorb, noting that Israeli restrictions on the UNRWA have already stretched the response thin.
The Humanitarian Country Team noted that international NGOs support vital infrastructure in Gaza, including field hospitals, health clinics, water and sanitation services, emergency shelters, and treatment for malnourished children.
If forced to withdraw, one-third of Gaza’s health facilities might close immediately, affecting tens of thousands of patients.
Aid leaders expressed that they’ve repeatedly communicated these issues to Israeli authorities, seeking solutions to maintain operations.
“No changes have been made,” the statement noted, indicating that dismantling NGO operations seems inevitable.
The agencies demanded that humanitarian access be recognized as a legal obligation, emphasizing that lifesaving aid must reach Palestinians without delay. They urged Israel to permit swift and unrestricted aid deliveries and ensure that humanitarian organizations can operate independently and safely.
Without prompt action, the team warned, the impact on civilians in Gaza could be disastrous.
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