The Gaza Strip is experiencing a complete collapse of all aspects of life, whether it is humanitarian aid, the health sector, water or infrastructure, warns a top United Nations agency.
Israel occupation has destroyed more than 90 per cent of the buildings and infrastructure in Gaza, rendering it uninhabitable, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna said yesterday.
He said 95pc of the population suffers from varying degrees of malnutrition and 70,000 children are currently experiencing level five malnutrition – the most severe classification according to global food security and United Nations standards.
Speaking in an interview with Cairo News Channel, Abu Hasna said that 99pc of the water in Gaza is fully contaminated, leading to widespread outbreaks of diseases such as Hepatitis, meningitis and numerous intestinal illnesses.
He also noted the spread of famine, which has caused the collapse of individual immune systems, describing the situation in Gaza as a humanitarian catastrophe at all levels.
Abu Hasna pointed out that Israel has repeatedly attempted to replace UNRWA by alternative means but has not succeeded.
UNRWA has more than 13,000 workers in Gaza and possesses the logistical capabilities necessary to facilitate the distribution of food and humanitarian supplies.
He noted that Israel has replaced 400 UNRWA humanitarian aid distribution points with the so-called ‘Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’, through which dozens of civilians are killed everyday.
He stressed that UNRWA’s services continue in Gaza, with the exception of food distribution operations, due to the absence of any food entering the Strip.
Six UNRWA-run schools in Jerusalem have been closed, although clinics remain operational, and services continue in the West Bank as well, he said.
Hopes have revived of a breakthrough in negotiations for a ceasefire with Israeli officials saying that the country has decided to send a delegation to Qatar for talks.
Hamas said on Friday it had responded to a US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal in a ‘positive spirit’, a few days after US President Donald Trump said Israel had agreed ‘to the necessary conditions to finalise’ a 60-day truce.
But in a sign of the potential challenges still facing the two sides, a Hamas official said concerns remained over humanitarian aid, passage through the Rafah crossing in southern Israel to Egypt and clarity over a timetable for Israeli troop withdrawals.
“We have contingency plans, in co-operation with all UN agencies, in the event a ceasefire is declared in Gaza,” Abu Hasna added.
“Thousands of our staff are prepared for immediate emergency response. We have plans in place to resume food distribution, as well as to ensure the continued delivery of medicines, medical supplies and fuel required for hospital operations.”
UNRWA had earlier stressed the urgent need to allow large-scale fuel entry into Gaza through the United Nations, emphasising that fuel is a lifeline for Gaza.
It said on its Facebook page: “In Gaza starvation is increasing. People are fainting in the streets from hunger. The current aid distribution system has humiliated and dehumanised hungry, scared, injured and exhausted families.
No person, anywhere, should be forced to choose between risking their life and feeding their family. During the ceasefire, the UN, including UNRWA, proved it can deliver life-saving assistance safely and at scale across the Gaza Strip. We have the systems, the expertise, and the will. What we need is access. Lift the siege. Let us do our job.”
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