The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has issued a stark warning, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation unfolding in Gaza. Lazzarini expressed grave concern over the looming famine, stating that aid agencies are facing significant challenges in delivering essential food supplies to the northern region of the enclave.
According to Lazzarini, humanitarian aid has not reached people in northern Gaza for over a month, with the last food distribution conducted by UNRWA dated back to January 23. The delays have been attributed to various obstacles, including alleged delays by Israel in facilitating aid deliveries. However, Israeli authorities have refuted these claims as they prepare to report to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding measures taken to mitigate suffering in Gaza.
He said, despite calls for urgent action to alleviate the crisis, requests to allow food distribution in Gaza amidst ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas have been denied or ignored, exacerbating an already dire situation. Lazzarini emphasized the gravity of the situation, labeling it a “man-made disaster” and warning of the imminent threat of famine.
Significantly, the scale of the crisis is staggering, with approximately 500,000 people facing the risk of famine, while the entire population of Gaza, totaling 2.3 million individuals, is grappling with acute food shortages, according to figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Tragically, reports have surfaced of a two-month-old Palestinian boy succumbing to starvation, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Amidst the mounting challenges, aid agencies said they are encountering significant obstacles in delivering essential supplies. Israel, which controls Gaza’s border crossings, has reportedly opened only one entry point into the enclave since the onset of the conflict. Additionally, stringent checking procedures for trucks entering Gaza have further hindered aid deliveries, with the average number of trucks significantly reduced compared to pre-conflict levels.
Meanwhile, Israel has denied accusations of obstructing aid deliveries, asserting that there are no limits to the humanitarian aid that can be sent to Gaza and northern Gaza. However, Human Rights Watch has criticized Israel for failing to adhere to the ICJ’s order to increase aid deliveries, citing a significant drop in the average number of aid trucks entering Gaza in recent weeks.
