Half a million refugees: Gaza suffers from a humanitarian crisis!

The Israeli military campaigns, which regularly lead to Palestinians have to leave certain areas, are part of a wider conflict that escalated after the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023. Since then, around 90 percent of the Gaza Strip residents have been expelled, many of them several times.

precarious humanitarian situation

The situation for the remaining population is shocking. The UN warns of an acute lack of food, water and medication, while the makeshift accommodations are overcrowded. More and more cases of acute malnutrition in children can be observed. Israel has also blocked the import of vital humanitarian aid for about one and a half months to put pressure on Hamas.

according to unric.org , reliable auxiliary deliveries for people in the Gaza strip are urgently needed. Particular attention is paid to the children, a third of whom are under five years old and who urgently need schools, clean water and stability.

blocked aid deliveries

The challenges in the delivery of humanitarian aid are enormous. In the last two and a half months, only 34 trucks were able to enter food and water in North Gaza, whereby only 12 wagons actually distributed relief goods. The massive delays and repeated systematic disabilities by the Israeli military are the main reasons for the fact that many people are cut off from care. According to oxfam.de an auxiliary convoy of 11 trucks was available last month, at a checkpoint in Jabalia.

The restricted access to important relief goods is further difficult by numerous attacks on the infrastructure. Since the beginning of the war, 360 attacks have been recorded on UN facilities. This also has a devastating impact on water and sanitary supply. The condition of a fountain in Khan Younis is particularly dramatic, the recovery of which is hindered with dangerous materials by removing rubble.

The situation in the Gaza Strip remains extremely critical, while the international community should urge solutions to protect the suffering population. Oxfam calls for urgent diplomatic and economic measures to cover the comprehensive humanitarian needs of citizens in the Gaza Strip.