The United Nations has sounded a renewed alarm over the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, with UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric detailing severe shortages, obstructed access routes, and escalating winter-related risks during Monday’s noon briefing at UN Headquarters.

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), conditions across Gaza remain “extremely dire,” even as aid agencies continue operations amid widespread destruction from two years of war.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator Concludes Four-Day Visit

Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, completed a four-day mission to Gaza on Sunday. During his visit, he met with humanitarian partners, inspected aid projects, and spoke directly with civilians enduring what he described as “appalling” circumstances as temperatures drop.

Alakbarov emphasized the urgent need for unrestricted humanitarian access and stressed that NGO partners must be allowed to bring essential supplies into the territory without obstruction.

Health Services Recovering but Critical Supplies Still Blocked

Health-sector partners report that 234 health service points are now operational, up from 197 before the ceasefire — a notable increase but still far below what is needed. Essential medical supplies remain scarce, and the destruction of health infrastructure continues to severely limit capacity.

Major Aid Routes Blocked, Convoys Exposed to Looting

The UN’s logistics partners warned that Salah ad-Din Road remains closed for humanitarian cargo movement from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing. With only Al-Rasheed Road and the Philadelphi Corridor available, aid convoys face overcrowding, long delays, and heightened risks of looting and security incidents.

1.5 Million People in Urgent Need of Shelter Assistance

Shelter needs remain catastrophic, with 1.5 million people requiring immediate support. UN agencies and partners are distributing tents, tarpaulins, bedding, kitchen sets, and winter clothing vouchers across the Strip.

Between Wednesday and Thursday, assistance reached 4,300 households, including 2,500 in southern Gaza and 1,800 in the north. Storm damage has compounded the crisis, though partners successfully reopened 18 of 31 temporary learning spaces, enabling nearly 8,000 children to return to some form of education.

Education Supplies Still Being Blocked

Over the weekend, 160 high-performance educational tents — the largest single shipment to date — entered Gaza to support learning activities. However, UN education partners warn that stationery and basic school materials continue to be rejected at border crossings, severely limiting their ability to scale up services. Fewer than 3,200 individual learner kits have been permitted into Gaza so far.

Cash Aid Reaches 123,000 Families

UN partners responsible for cash assistance announced that transfers have been completed for 123,000 families since the ceasefire began, surpassing the target of 120,000 households under the 60-day plan.

Ongoing Crisis

Dujarric emphasized that while humanitarian actors are expanding services wherever possible, progress is repeatedly undermined by access restrictions, shortages of critical supplies, and the immense destruction left by continuous military operations.

“The needs remain overwhelming,” he said, underscoring the UN’s call for unfettered humanitarian access and sustained international support. (ILKHA)