UN Urges Israel To Facilitate Access To Humanitarian Missions To Gaza Strip

A humanitarian aid truck from Egypt entered Gaza via Rafah. (Twitter/@PalestinineRCS)

JAKARTA - United Nations officials voiced concern over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, urging Israeli occupation authorities to allow aid deliveries.

"Humanitarian operations in Gaza must be fully facilitated and all obstacles must be removed," UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters.

Furthermore, Haq emphasized that access constraints continue to "very hamper" the delivery of humanitarian aid and services throughout Gaza.

He explained that between June 1-18 and there were 61 humanitarian aid missions that were coordinated to northern Gaza. Of that number, 28 were facilitated by Israeli authorities, eight were denied access, 16 were blocked and nine canceled for logistical, operational or security reasons.

He said hundreds of thousands of people displaced in southern Gaza had poor access to shelters, health, food, water and sanitation.

"From June 7 to 14, OCHA led humanitarian assessments at four refugee camps in the south of Gaza; Deir al Balah, two in Khan Younis and two in the Al Manawasi area in Rafah," Haq said, adding access to "very low" water, and people had to queue for hours to get it and were forced to rely on seawater for household purposes.

"Many households report eating only once a day, while some eat once every two or three days, most rely on bread, share food with other families, and share stock," he said.

The militant group led by Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, leaving about 1,200 people dead and holding more than 250 people hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

It was responded to by a blockade, bombardment and ground operations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Gaza's health authorities announced on Thursday that the death toll of Palestinians as a result of Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023 has reached 37,431, while injuries have reached 85,653.