The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced on Thursday that no humanitarian aid has entered the Gaza Strip since March 2, marking the longest sustained blockade since the beginning of the Israeli military offensive.

In a series of statements shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, UNRWA warned that the ongoing suspension of aid is three times longer than the initial blockade imposed at the outbreak of the war. The agency emphasized that this unprecedented stoppage is critically hampering its ability to deliver lifesaving assistance to Gaza’s besieged population.

The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has deepened further in recent weeks, with the Israeli military continuing its bombardment of the territory. UNRWA reported that approximately 69% of Gaza is now under formal evacuation orders, following the issuance of at least 20 new displacement directives by Israeli forces. As a result, an estimated 420,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced again in the latest wave of attacks.

“The situation is dire,” the agency warned, citing extreme shortages in food, clean water, sanitation, shelter, and medical supplies. The blockade has not only prevented the entry of humanitarian goods but has also paralyzed UNRWA’s ability to distribute essential aid to millions of civilians in desperate need.

Earlier this month, the agency disclosed that nearly 1.9 million Palestinians — approximately 85% of Gaza’s total population — have been displaced since the conflict escalated in October 2023. Many of these individuals have been displaced multiple times, as areas designated as “safe zones” are repeatedly targeted.

UNRWA reiterated its urgent call for unimpeded humanitarian access and an immediate ceasefire to allow relief operations to resume and prevent further loss of life. (ILKHA)