In brief
Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, highlighted the dire conditions in northern Gaza, where hospitals are inoperable and civilians face extreme hardships due to ongoing Israeli military operations.
In the midst of a severe humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), has condemned Israel's ongoing blockade on humanitarian missions. Critical supplies, including food and medicine, are not reaching those in desperate need. Reports indicate that the remaining UN shelters are extremely overcrowded, forcing many displaced civilians to resort to living in makeshift conditions.The Israeli military has been intensifying its offensive in northern Gaza, targeting areas believed to harbor Hamas fighters. Eyewitness accounts from residents describe Israeli forces besieging hospitals and refugee shelters amid escalating violence. While the military claims it is facilitating evacuations for innocent civilians, the reality on the ground has been grim. Demonstrating the intense nature of the conflict, reports emerged that Israeli troops stormed a school, detaining men and subsequently setting fire to the building.Palestinian sources reported at least ten fatalities resulting from artillery fire that hit a camp for displaced individuals within Jabalia. Graphic footage shared by local media showed at least four lifeless bodies, including a child and a woman, among the ruins of a makeshift shelter. Despite these accusations, the Israeli military is said to be investigating the situation.The Israeli body responsible for managing crossings into Gaza, known as Cogat, acknowledged that aid lorries and fuel tankers were recently sent to northern Gaza, including a Unicef mission that delivered polio vaccinations. However, the UN reported a total blockade of aid during the initial weeks of October, coinciding with the military's intensifying maneuvers. Engagement from the international community, notably the United States, has urged Israel to increase humanitarian access.The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated that requests for access to the Falouja area of Jabalia were met with refusal by Israeli authorities. Additionally, one resident's emotional plea for rescue from under rubble highlighted the plight of individuals trapped beneath collapsed buildings following airstrikes.The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) emphasized the severe suffering experienced by the estimated 400,000 civilians in northern Gaza. Medics report local hospitals are overwhelmed by the influx of wounded individuals facing power shortages and lack of basic supplies. Many vulnerable residents, particularly the elderly and disabled, are unable to evacuate, leaving them susceptible to the ongoing violence. As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, approximately 42,000 fatalities have been reported in Gaza since the escalation on October 7, where an unprecedented attack on southern Israel left around 1,200 dead and over 250 captured. The humanitarian situation in the region remains critical, with urgent calls for basic needs such as food, water, medical care, and protection from relentless hostilities.
