UN Warns of Catastrophic Conditions in Gaza
Moreover, the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA) on Friday labeled Gaza as the 'hungriest place on Earth.' The warnings came as Israel allowed the delivery of limited aid supplies to the enclave's population under mounting global pressure. Catastrophic Situation
On Friday, the UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said that the situation in Gaza had reached a catastrophic level despite limited aid deliveries, according to Reuters.
Speaking to reporters in New York, Dujarric said that aid deliveries so far have had 'very, very little impact.' He also warned that 'the catastrophic situation in Gaza is the worst since the war began.' Israeli Restrictions
The UN said that due to Israeli restrictions, it has only managed to transport around 200 aid trucks into Gaza over the past 12 days. It added that some of the trucks, as well as a World Food Program (WFP) warehouse, have been looted by hungry people.
On Wednesday, hungry people stormed a WFP warehouse in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza. The incident left two people dead.
Furthermore, officials at the UN slammed limitations which Israel imposes on the kind of aid they can provide. In the light of this, the UN humanitarian affairs spokesperson, Eri Kaneko, said: 'Israeli authorities have not allowed us to bring in a single ready-to-eat meal. The only food permitted has been flour for bakeries. Even if allowed in unlimited quantities, which it hasn't been, it wouldn't amount to a complete diet for anyone.' Complex Process
Aid deliveries undergo a complex process to enter Gaza. After Israeli inspections, aid supplies cross to the Palestinian side of Kerem Shalom crossing, where aid workers unload and reload them on their own trucks for distribution.
With regards to this, Dujarric said: 'Yesterday, we and our humanitarian partners only managed to collect five truckloads of cargo from the Palestinian side of the Kareem Shalom crossing. The other 60 trucks had to return to the crossing due to intense hostilities in the area.' Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
On March 2, 2025, Israel imposed a total blockade on aid entry into Gaza to ramp up pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages. Under growing international pressure, Israel in mid-May allowed limited aid delivery to resume under UN supervision. It also launched the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) – a new US-backed mechanism to distribute aid.
The GHF operations involve establishing a small number of distribution hubs, where Palestinian civilians will head once a week to get one aid package per family, sufficient for 7 days. The organization cooperates with private American contractors to secure aid trucks on their way from the enclave's borders to the distribution hubs. GHF Controversy
The initial phase includes four distribution hubs located in southern and central Gaza, with plans to expand across several areas within the next month. On Tuesday, at least 47 Palestinians were shot and injured at the GHF's distribution hub in southern Gaza, while trying to collect aid, according to UN human rights office (OHCHR).
The GHF has faced mounting criticism from the UN and other humanitarian organizations, which refused to work with the organization amid fears that its distribution model will force the displacement of Palestinians. Moreover, the GHF head resigned, citing concerns over 'humanitarian principles,' including neutrality and independence. Hungriest Place on Earth
The spokesperson of the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA), Jens Laerke, warned that the entire population of Gaza is at risk of famine. 'Gaza is the hungriest place on Earth,' he said.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Friday, Laerke said that Gaza 'is the only defined territory in the world where the entire population is at risk of famine.' He added that 'the aid operation that we have ready to roll is being put in an operational straitjacket that makes it one of the most obstructed aid operations, not only in the world today, but in recent history.'
Laerke explained the difficulties facing the UN during aid delivery to Gaza. He said that out of about 900 trucks that Israel authorized to enter through Kerem Shalom Crossing, less than 600 have been offloaded on the Palestinian side and a smaller number have been picked up for distribution due to security concerns.
The OCHA spokesperson also pointed to aid looting, saying that many of the trucks were 'swarmed by desperate people.' However, Laerke said he does not blame the people because 'it's a survival reaction by desperate people who want to feed their families.'
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