Why it matters:
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza is exacerbated by the lack of aid, affecting thousands of civilians and critical services, particularly as violence escalates in the region.
The big picture:
Humanitarian organizations are struggling to coordinate aid efforts due to Israeli authorities rejecting most requests for assistance. The situation has reached a critical point, with no aid entering Gaza for three weeks, leading to severe shortages of essential supplies.
What he is saying:
"Most efforts by humanitarian organizations to coordinate with Israeli officials for sending aid to Gaza are being rejected," said UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
He added that OCHA has warned that relief supplies in Gaza are running out, and Israeli officials have blocked vital tasks for aid workers, including retrieving stranded food supplies at the border and delivering fuel to bakeries. Dujarric emphasized, "Out of every seven requests for aid to Gaza, five are rejected by Israeli officials. Today, six out of nine aid requests were denied by Israel."
Key points:
- At least 220 temporary educational spaces in Gaza remain closed, affecting over 60,000 children.
- Due to the escalation of hostilities, schools will remain closed at least until the end of Ramadan.
- The Israeli military launched a surprise air operation in Gaza last month, resulting in nearly 800 deaths and over 1,600 injuries, halting ceasefire agreements and prisoner exchanges.
- The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that since October 7, 2023, the number of martyrs due to the Israeli regime's aggression has risen to 50,144, with injuries totaling 113,704.
- In the last 24 hours, 62 martyrs and 296 injured individuals have been transferred to hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
Go deeper:
Palestinian Premier Urges Global Action to Address Gaza's Devastation
Zohre Khazaee
