A month after Israel cut off humanitarian aid from the Gaza Strip, the situation has deteriorated dangerously for two million civilians. Hunger is spreading, and access to clean water is scarce, with fleas infesting makeshift displacement camps.
The Israeli military’s renewed assault in March has displaced nearly 400,000 Palestinians, and at least 1,391 have been killed, including 505 children. The situation is worsened by a lack of food and aid due to the full cargo blockade, which now enters its second month.
A new mechanism proposed by COGAT aims to improve aid delivery, but its use depends on a ceasefire deal or change in government directive. Meanwhile, 89,000 tonnes of food wait outside Gaza, while prices have skyrocketed, making it difficult for people to afford basic necessities.
The World Health Organization reports that Gaza’s hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, and the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital has seen an influx of injured individuals. The hospital lacks capacity due to the ongoing blockade on the health sector, resulting in tragic deaths among the wounded.
Humanitarian agencies warn that people are starving, chaos is returning, and looting is widespread. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency, described the situation as “chaos” with people exhausted and locked up in a tiny piece of land.
The Norwegian Refugee Council’s Gavin Kelleher stated that over a million people remain in dire need of tents, but his organization has almost nothing left to distribute. An independent group of UN experts warned that Israel’s actions in Gaza are leading to a “massacre of Palestinians.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/07/middleeast/israel-gaza-blockade-aid-agencies-intl/index.html