The United Nations' humanitarian body has issued a warning about the escalating crisis in Gaza, with all crossings into Rafah remaining closed. The head of the Gaza sub-office of UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs highlighted the dire situation during a recent UN briefing.
Over 110,000 displaced individuals have been forced to move north due to an evacuation order linked to the military operation in Rafah. Many of these people have been displaced multiple times, adding to the complexity of the humanitarian crisis.
The closure of the Rafah crossing has severely impacted access to essential supplies, fuel, and the movement of humanitarian staff. It has also hindered civilian and medical evacuations, posing a significant threat to the well-being of the population.
If a sustainable solution is not implemented promptly, aid activities in the region could come to a halt within the next two days. Organizations like the World Food Programme and UN Relief and Works Agency are on the brink of running out of food supplies for distribution in the southern region, leaving many individuals reliant on limited resources.
The situation has been exacerbated by the recent closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing and the Israeli capture of the Rafah crossing. While the Israeli Defense Forces have claimed that humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza via the Kerem Shalom Crossing, the overall flow of aid remains uncertain.
Efforts to provide aid to civilians are being hampered by ongoing hostilities, with Hamas reportedly targeting the Kerem Shalom Crossing. The need for a coordinated and sustainable approach to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is more pressing than ever.
