UN Warns Humanitarian Operations in Gaza Still Face Obstacles Despite Ceasefire

JAKARTA - Humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, continue to face major obstacles despite the ceasefire having passed the 100-day mark, the United Nations said, warning that lives remain at risk amid continued restrictions and deteriorating conditions.

UN spokesman Farhan Haq, quoting the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stressed at a press conference that the ceasefire must be maintained to save the lives of civilians.

"The increase in humanitarian work continues to be hampered by restrictions and obstacles, with recent bad weather also hindering some progress," Haq said, launching Daily Sabah (21/1).

The World Food Programme (WFP) highlighted the fragility of the situation, despite reaching more than one million people each month with food packages, bread, hot meals, and school feeding programmes.

Haq noted the WFP's call for additional safe humanitarian corridors from Egypt, Jordan and along the Salah Ad Din Road in Gaza to increase the flow of aid and reduce insecurity.

In addition, the health risk remains acute. The UN announced the launch of the second round of a follow-up immunization campaign targeting children under the age of three, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

The campaign, involving 170 teams at nearly 130 health facilities and seven mobile teams in hard-to-reach areas, aims to protect children from diseases that can be prevented by vaccines, with a third round planned for April.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that the risk of disease in Gaza has reached record levels as children continue to miss out on vital vaccinations after more than two years of war, harsh winter weather, and a collapsing health system.

"Vaccination in these conditions is more important than ever," Lazzarini said, citing cold weather, heavy rain, flooding, overcrowded shelters, poor sanitation, and failing medical services.

Separately, a medical source in Gaza on Tuesday confirmed that the number of Palestinian deaths since the latest conflict broke out on October 7, 2023, has reached 71,551 people, while the number of injured reached 171,372 people, quoted from WAFA.

Meanwhile, since the ceasefire mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United States came into force on October 10, 2025, at least 466 people have been killed and 1,294 others injured in Gaza, and 713 bodies have been found under the rubble.