The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has issued an urgent alert, describing Gaza’s humanitarian situation as a spiraling catastrophe driven by Israel’s ongoing blockade, now in its third month.

The agency warns that without an immediate influx of aid, the 2.4 million Palestinians trapped in the region face deepening starvation and loss of life.

In a statement shared on X, UNRWA stressed that Gaza’s population “can no longer afford to wait” for essential supplies, as Israel’s closure of all border crossings since March 2 has blocked food, water, and medical aid. The agency called for 500 to 600 aid trucks daily, coordinated by the UN, to meet basic needs and avert further disaster.

The blockade has led to dire consequences, with 58 deaths—mostly children and elderly—attributed to malnutrition over the past 80 days. An additional 242 people have died due to shortages of food, clean water, and medical care, all deemed preventable by UNRWA. Israel’s military operations, including airstrikes and ground assaults across northern and southern Gaza, have exacerbated famine-like conditions.

Humanitarian organizations and human rights groups have accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war, a violation of international law. Despite UN Security Council resolutions and binding orders from the International Court of Justice demanding an end to the blockade, Israel has not complied, intensifying global calls for action.

UNRWA and other aid agencies are urging immediate international intervention to lift the blockade, cease military operations, and restore humanitarian access to prevent further suffering and loss of life in Gaza. (ILKHA)