UN Warns Escalation of Regional Conflict Worsens Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Illustration of the Rafah crossing. (Source: WAFA)

JAKARTA - The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the ongoing regional escalation directly impacted the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, with all crossings, including the Rafah border crossing, remaining closed.

In a statement, OCHA confirmed that the rotation of UN staff had been delayed, which led to the suspension of medical evacuations and the repatriation of displaced residents, despite efforts to maintain the flow of supplies.

OCHA stressed that a continued total blockade threatens to halt these operations, as quoted from WAFA (4/3).

OCHA noted that fuel consumption had been rationed due to depleted supplies, which affected the operations of bakeries, hospitals, and desalination plants, as well as forcing the suspension of waste collection services.

The statement added that some areas in Gaza only received two liters of drinking water per day, amid rising prices of basic necessities.

In the West Bank, OCHA reported that most checkpoints had been closed, impeding the movement of Palestinians and impacting livelihoods, essential services, and humanitarian operations.

OCHA stressed the need to protect civilians and ensure the unimpeded entry and movement of humanitarian assistance, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Separately, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday said humanitarian supplies would be able to enter through the Kerem Shalom crossing into the Gaza Strip between Tuesday and Wednesday.

"This is timely for us, and we need to put the aid in as quickly as possible," WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe Samer Abdel Jaber told reporters in Geneva via video link from Cairo, as reported by Al Arabiya from Reuters.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government agency, COGAT, said it would reopen the Kerem Shalom crossing starting Tuesday for the gradual entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

It is known that the US and Iran held "Operation Epic Furry" version of Washington or "Operation Roaring Lion" version of Tel Aviv on Saturday, quoted from ABC.

The attack left hundreds of people dead in Iran, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a number of senior Tehran officials.

"According to field reports from the operational team, unfortunately, 787 citizens have been killed in this attack," the Iranian Red Crescent said on its website.

The Red Crescent also said attacks since Saturday had hit 153 cities and more than 500 locations across Iran in more than 1,000 attacks.

In response, Iran has fired missiles at Israel, at US bases around the region and also at targets in regional Arab countries - Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates - something US President Donald Trump has called a "major surprise."

Citing CBS News, the US military on Monday said the death toll of its soldiers in the latest conflict with Iran had reached six.

Earlier, COGAT said on Saturday that the crossing into the Gaza Strip, which is vital for the delivery of humanitarian aid and the movement of patients in need of medical evacuation, was closed due to Israeli and US forces attacking Iran.