The United Nations Humanitarian Office (OCHA) insists that civilians are being targeted under attack, particularly in northern Gaza, where conditions are reported to be poor at Kamal Adwan Hospital.
Since October 6, 2024, 61 of the 95 attacks on school buildings in the Gaza Strip have taken place here.
Temporary shelters in Gaza have been damaged by floods, but UN humanitarian teams have helped 285,000 people, under which the camps have been repaired between September and November.
OCHA said 9.5 lakh people need immediate assistance to protect them from cold and rain. 58,000 sealing kits and 36,000 tarpaulins are ready to be sent to Gaza, which have been purchased to meet the needs of 4 million people.
However, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza is very slow and may therefore take a long time to arrive.
Unsafe condition
After entering the Gaza Strip, humanitarian aid convoys are facing extreme insecurity and their laden food and other relief supplies are being looted.
Humanitarian aid agencies have insisted that these attacks must stop. In an agreement with Israeli authorities last Tuesday, a UN convoy was allowed to use the route separating southern Gaza and Egypt.
Through this, food assistance has been given to two lakh people who are in food shortage.
According to the UN agency, between December 1 and 16, 339 relief missions were planned for the Gaza Strip, of which 102 were approved, 141 were rejected and 62 were blocked.
At the same time, due to security and operational challenges, 34 relief operations had to be suspended.
disease progression
The United Nations Health Organization has warned that as temperatures drop, the incidence of respiratory diseases, infections, diarrhea and other diseases increases.
In 2024, over 1.3 million cases of respiratory infections and over 5.5 million cases of diarrhea were recorded. This situation is likely to worsen in the coming days.
UN humanitarian agencies have warned that many displaced Palestinians have taken up residence in the ruins of destroyed homes in Khan Younis, Bani Suhaila and other areas.
These structures are very fragile and are liable to crack due to rain.
The death toll is rising
According to local authorities in Gaza, 273 Palestinians were killed and 853 wounded in Israeli military operations last week.
More than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 100,000 injured in the Israeli military operation that began on October 7, 2023, following attacks by Hamas and other extremist groups in southern Israel.
OCHA reports, based on data from the Israeli military, that from 7 October 2023 to 17 December 2024, 1,586 Israeli and foreign civilians were killed, most of whom died in attacks on and immediately after 7 October 2023.
This includes 386 Israeli soldiers, who were killed in Gaza or the border areas with Israel. About 2,500 soldiers have been injured since the start of the military operation in Gaza.
According to one estimate, there are still 100 Israeli and foreign national hostages in Gaza. Some of them are suspected to have died, but their bodies have not been handed over.