The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has issued a stark warning about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, stating that more than 90% of the population now depends entirely on aid, with many receiving only one meal every 24 hours.

In a statement released Monday, the agency said that despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to block international UNRWA staff from entering Gaza and restricts aid delivery, leaving an estimated 6,000 food trucks stranded at border crossings. An average of 170 trucks are currently entering the Strip daily—far below the minimum required to cover basic needs.

UNRWA is currently operating 100 shelters that house more than 80,000 displaced Palestinians. The agency also continues to provide distance learning for 300,000 students and in-person classes for 50,000 students under what it describes as “harsh and stressful conditions.”

Around 44,000 children are studying in 330 makeshift classrooms set up inside 59 shelters, many of them forced to sit on the cold ground without chairs or desks. UNRWA said the lack of basic school furniture not only hinders learning but also undermines children’s sense of stability and safety.

The dire situation follows the “genocidal war waged by the Israeli occupation” beginning on October 7, 2023, which destroyed large parts of Gaza’s educational infrastructure. With hundreds of schools damaged or flattened, UNRWA has converted emergency shelters into temporary learning spaces.

The agency stressed that “providing simple necessities such as desks and chairs is essential for rebuilding hope” among Gaza’s children.

UNRWA’s health network is operating at maximum capacity. Clinics across Gaza—seven fixed centers and 35 mobile medical points—receive 15,000 patients daily, with total medical visits since October 7 surpassing 15 million. Malnutrition rates have now reached 90%, particularly among children.

The statement revealed that 380 UNRWA staff members have been killed since the start of the war, while 90% of its nearly 300 facilities have been damaged by Israeli airstrikes. The destruction has caused a severe decline in the agency’s operational capacity at a time when humanitarian needs are at their highest.

UNRWA is also grappling with a $200 million budget deficit, a crisis exacerbated by the United States’ decision to halt its annual $360 million contribution. The agency accused certain groups of orchestrating multimillion-dollar campaigns to discredit UNRWA and falsely associate it with terrorism.

The agency’s warning underscores the rapidly deteriorating living conditions in Gaza and the immense challenges facing humanitarian operations. With large-scale destruction, severe shortages of food and medical supplies, and continued restrictions on aid, UNRWA cautions that Gaza’s civilian population remains on the brink of total collapse. (ILKHA)