The World Food Programme (WFP) has raised alarms about the deteriorating food market situation in Gaza, describing the markets as being in a state of “decay.” They reported that fresh foods, eggs, and meat are scarcely available, with the prices of any remaining food reaching unprecedented levels. This alert comes just days after UN-backed hunger experts warned that famine conditions may have already been met or are imminent in northern Gaza.
### Starvation in Northern Gaza
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), attempts to deliver food and medical aid to people in northern Gaza throughout November have been consistently blocked or hindered. This situation is exacerbated by ongoing Israeli strikes in the region, which have intensified in recent days. Many people fleeing attacks and evacuation orders have sought shelter in Gaza City, often in schools that are now unsafe due to structural concerns. Recently, UNICEF reported that 64 attacks were launched on schools in October, most of which were being used as shelters for displaced civilians.
OCHA estimates that roughly 130,000 people have been displaced from northern Gaza due to these escalating attacks. In addition, reports from the ground indicate that dead bodies are being left in the open, and dogs have been observed scavenging from them. Medical care across Gaza is in a precarious state, with UN health agencies reporting a rise in premature births and maternal deaths due to the collapsing healthcare system.
### Overwhelmed Medical Services
UNFPA, the UN reproductive health agency, highlighted the dire conditions facing over 155,000 expectant and new mothers in Gaza. These women are enduring extreme trauma, hunger, and exhaustion. Less than half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are partially operational, as are only 47 out of 133 primary health centers. Since the conflict began, more than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of whom are civilians. At least 10,000 people remain trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings and shelters, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
### Israeli Strikes in Lebanon
While Gaza faces a humanitarian catastrophe, the situation in Lebanon is also grim. Israeli airstrikes have claimed at least 241 lives and injured 642 people in Lebanon in just one week. Since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, nearly 3,300 people, including 203 children and 644 women, have been killed in Lebanon, with 14,222 reported injuries.
The violence has severely affected children, with at least one child killed and ten injured daily during October alone. UNICEF has called on all warring parties to adhere to international humanitarian laws, emphasizing the need to protect children.
Despite these pleas, fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in Lebanon continues, with Israeli airstrikes causing significant damage to homes and critical infrastructure in southern Lebanon. A recent airstrike on a residential building in the northern Akkar region killed 18 people, while another attack on a shelter in Mount Lebanon left 23 dead, including seven children.
### Homes Repeatedly Targeted
The UN humanitarian coordinators have reported that residential buildings sheltering displaced people in Lebanon have been repeatedly targeted. In one such attack in northern Lebanon, over 40 people lost their lives. The violence has also impacted UN peacekeeping operations. UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping mission monitoring the Lebanon-Israel border, has reported numerous violations since the violence escalated, including more than half a dozen direct attacks on peacekeepers.
### Attacks on Healthcare Providers
Attacks on health facilities and workers have also been on the rise. According to WHO, 127 health facilities and eight hospitals have experienced interruptions in care due to airstrikes. Nine hospitals have seen their functionality reduced, and health workers continue to suffer casualties. Since mid-September 2024, 44 attacks on healthcare providers have resulted in 63 injuries and 91 deaths. In total, there have been 103 incidents targeting healthcare facilities since October 2023, with 145 deaths reported.
### Peacekeeping Chief Visits Lebanon
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Peacekeeping Chief, visited the UNIFIL headquarters in southern Lebanon this week. During his visit, Lacroix spoke with peacekeepers who had sustained injuries during clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. He also visited UN positions in Mansouri and the Mission’s headquarters in Naqoura, expressing gratitude for the dedication of both military and civilian staff during these challenging times.
Lacroix also met with Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, along with other high-ranking UN officials. Together, they stressed the critical importance of UNIFIL’s peacekeeping mission and re-emphasized the need to uphold UN Resolution 1701, which calls for the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
### Conclusion
The humanitarian crises in Gaza and Lebanon continue to deepen, with no immediate end to the violence in sight. As conditions worsen, international organizations like the UN are struggling to deliver necessary
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