Urgent Humanitarian Crisis in Northern Gaza as Aid Access Plummets.
New York:
The humanitarian situation in northern Gaza has reached a critical point, with renewed mass forced displacements and ongoing military obstructions severely limiting aid access. UNICEF reports that the number of trucks delivering vital supplies has dramatically decreased, with only 80 entering the region since early October, compared to over 460 in September. This decline has left hundreds of thousands, particularly children and women, trapped in dire conditions.
Families are facing severe shortages of food and water, with sanitation supplies nearly nonexistent. Disturbing accounts reveal children suffering from burns, injuries, and acute malnutrition, with nearly 20% of children experiencing wasting, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition. The risks of famine loom large as ongoing conflict disrupts essential humanitarian efforts.
During a recent visit to Gaza, UNICEF representatives noted the desperate state of healthcare facilities, including the Kamal Adwan Hospital, the only pediatric unit in the north, where critically ill children are treated under worsening conditions. Many have been displaced multiple times, with those having disabilities particularly at risk due to the lack of medical care and safe shelter.
UNICEF is calling for the immediate lifting of aid restrictions and the resumption of commercial traffic to ensure that families receive necessary goods and services. Without urgent action, the agency warns that an entire generation of children could be lost to starvation, disease, and inadequate healthcare.
As the international community grapples with this escalating crisis, UNICEF emphasizes the need for unhindered humanitarian access and the continued presence of the Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), crucial for delivering lifesaving aid. Time is running out, and swift action is essential to prevent a catastrophic outcome for Gaza’s children.
