Humanitarian Aid Ramps Up in Gaza Amid Fragile Ceasefire
Following reports that a full-scale conflict was narrowly avoided over the weekend after Hamas agreed to release Israeli hostages, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that aid workers are making the most of the ceasefire to deliver crucial relief to Gazans in urgent need.
From northern Gaza, OCHA’s René Nijenhuis reported that families are primarily concerned about the ceasefire holding, as it has allowed aid teams to distribute water, shelter, and education materials. “Children are asking, ‘Where’s my school? I want to go to school,’” he said.
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Aid Convoys Delivering Critical Supplies
Since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, thousands of trucks carrying food, shelter, and medical supplies have entered Gaza, with an average of 600 trucks per day—a significant increase from the limited aid that was allowed in during the hostilities triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
On Wednesday alone, over 800 trucks brought essential goods into Gaza. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that it has provided food parcels to 1.5 million residents and has enough resources to reach the entire population of the Gaza Strip.
With Israeli forces withdrawing from sections of the Netzarim corridor, which previously split northern and southern Gaza, over 586,000 people have moved back north, while 56,000 have relocated south, according to UN humanitarian reports.
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Millions Still in Desperate Need
Despite the increased humanitarian aid, over two million Gazans remain in critical need of food, water, and medical supplies. UN agencies, including UNICEF, stress that true recovery will only be possible once commercial goods start flowing freely into Gaza again.
“A great deal of aid has entered, and we’ve expanded operations as quickly as possible during this ceasefire,” said UNICEF Communications Manager Tess Ingram. “However, we can’t reverse 15 months of suffering in just three weeks.”
She emphasized the need for steady aid deliveries, commercial goods to restock markets, and the restoration of Gaza’s banking sector to enable people to purchase necessities.
Ingram also noted that rebuilding essential infrastructure remains a major challenge due to the destruction caused by Israeli military operations. Key repairs—such as restoring water pipelines and installing generators—are being hindered by entry restrictions on critical materials.
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Ensuring Aid Workers' Safety Amid Ongoing Uncertainty
UNICEF stressed that it needs the ceasefire to continue, as humanitarian workers can only provide effective assistance when not operating under live-fire conditions.
“Our three main priorities are water access, healthcare and nutrition, and winter relief,” Ingram explained. Efforts are underway to repair damaged pipelines and wells, and emergency water trucking services have started to ensure people have immediate access to clean water.
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UNRWA's Essential Role in Gaza’s Humanitarian Response
UNRWA remains central to Gaza’s aid efforts, operating 120 shelters that currently house 120,000 displaced residents. To expand its reach, it has also opened 37 new emergency shelters, including seven in Gaza City and 30 in North Gaza.
On Thursday, a health center in Rafah was reopened—the first UNRWA medical facility in southern Gaza to become operational since the ceasefire began.
While the immediate risk of famine has mostly been mitigated, UNRWA emphasized that shelter and warmth for returning families remain top priorities. Since the truce started, 644,000 people have received tents, blankets, warm clothing, and materials for weather-proofing their homes.
In addition, UNRWA has committed to repairing water wells and offering waste management services for nearly 500,000 people living in and around its shelters.
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Healthcare Services Recovering, But Challenges Persist
UN health agencies have significantly scaled up medical assistance. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that the organization has helped evacuate 414 critically ill patients for treatment outside Gaza and has delivered medical supplies sufficient for 1.6 million people since the ceasefire started.
Meanwhile, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has increased its distribution of postpartum kits, dignity kits, and infant warmers. A new shelter for women has also been opened in Gaza City, offering safety from gender-based violence and functioning on solar power in case of electricity outages.
Between October 7, 2023, and February
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