UNITED NATIONS, Apr 22 : The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels, with more than two million people \u2013 mostly women and children \u2013 trapped, starving and desperate, as no aid has been allowed in for the past 50 days, the UN relief coordination office, OCHA, reported Tuesday.<\/p>\n
It said that this marks the longest period without aid or commercial supplies entering the war-shattered Strip since the conflict began in October 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, it is probably the worst humanitarian situation ever seen throughout the war in Gaza,\u201d OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told journalists at a briefing in Geneva.<\/p>\n
Over 2.1 million Gazans are facing acute shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and clean water.<\/p>\n
However, humanitarian supplies are stockpiled just across the border, including nearly 3,000 trucks of life-saving aid prepared by the Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA), which Israeli authorities are refusing to allow in.<\/p>\n
\u201cHunger is spreading and deepening \u2013 deliberate and man-made,\u201d UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cGaza has become a land of desperation\u2026humanitarian aid is being used as a bargaining chip and a weapon of war.\u201d<\/p>\n
The agency warned supplies inside Gaza are nearly all gone, with food stocks running dangerously low and only 250 food parcels left.<\/p>\n
Flour has run out. Bakeries are shutting down, hospitals are collapsing without fuel or medicine, and essential items have soared in price.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo million people \u2013 a majority of women and children \u2013 are undergoing collective punishment,\u201d Lazzarini said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe siege must be lifted, supplies must flow in, the hostages must be released, the ceasefire must resume.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite these conditions, UNRWA continues to operate on the ground, providing water, collecting solid waste, and running vital health services.<\/p>\n
Eight heath centres and 39 medical points are still providing around 15,000 consultations daily. A blood donation drive to support local hospitals in urgent need of transfusions is also underway.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 22 : The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels, with more than two million people \u2013 mostly women and children \u2013 trapped, starving and desperate, as no aid has been allowed in for the past 50 days, the UN relief […]<\/p>\n
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