Escalating Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Strip

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a dire humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, with the United Nations struggling to prevent famine and provide aid to the 2.3 million residents. Despite some improvement in coordination with Israel, aid deliveries within Gaza are facing significant checkpoint delays, with 41% of U.N. requests to deliver aid to northern Gaza being denied last week.

According to U.N. officials, the situation is like "one step forward, two steps backward," making it difficult to scale up aid efforts. While Israel has approved reopening the Erez crossing and temporary use of Ashdod port, the focus needs to be on improving aid access within Gaza, as the problem is not just about food but also water, sanitation, and health.

As of October 12, approximately 160,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded in UNRWA shelters in Northern Gaza and Gaza City governorates, out of an estimated total population of up to 300,000 people in these areas. By January 15, UNRWA reported that up to 1.9 million IDPs were either residing in or near 154 UNRWA shelters, but the number has been fluid due to the continued escalation of fighting and evacuation orders.

Since the beginning of the war, 359 incidents impacting UNRWA premises and the people inside them have been reported, including at least 50 incidents of military use and/or interference at UNRWA premises, affecting 163 different UNRWA installations. UNRWA estimates that at least 418 IDPs sheltering in their shelters have been killed and at least a further 1,418 injured since the start of the war, with the organization still verifying the number of casualties.

The escalating hostilities have resulted in massive destruction of hospitals, water and sanitation facilities, homes, roads, and schools in Gaza, including the shutdown of the largest medical facility, Shifa Hospital, due to Israel's recent military operations. The UN human rights office has stated that Israel is still imposing unlawful restrictions on humanitarian relief for Gaza, despite claims of eased barriers.

Why this matters: The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has far-reaching implications beyond the immediate suffering of its residents. The escalating conflict threatens to further destabilize the region and exacerbate tensions between Israel and Palestine, potentially drawing in other countries and leading to a wider flare-up. The international community must take urgent action to address the dire situation and prevent a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 33,843 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since October 7, 2023. The United Nations has appealed for $2.8 billion to provide desperately needed aid to 3 million Palestinians, stressing that addressing the impending famine requires restoring water, sanitation, and health facilities, not just providing food. Andrea De Domenico, the head of the U.N. humanitarian office for Gaza and the West Bank, highlighted the massive destruction and the need for urgent action to prevent further suffering.

Key Takeaways

• UN struggles to prevent famine in Gaza, facing checkpoint delays for aid delivery.
• Up to 1.9 million internally displaced persons in UNRWA shelters due to escalating conflict.
• 359 incidents impacting UNRWA premises, with 50 incidents of military use/interference.
• Massive destruction of hospitals, water, sanitation, homes, roads, and schools in Gaza.
• UN appeals for $2.8 billion to provide aid to 3 million Palestinians facing famine.