Briefing journalists from central Gaza in Geneva on Friday, senior emergency officer for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Louise Wateridge said heartbreaking images were emerging from the scene.
“Parents looking for their children, children covered in dust and blood looking for their parents.”
The attack came a day after the UN General Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Describing the current situation as disturbing, Louise Wateridge said the deep suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip has now become a normal part of daily life.
According to UN official Wateridge, hospitals are overcrowded and doctors are constantly struggling to prevent life-threatening wounds and infections. The situation is further complicated by severe shortages of essential medical supplies such as insulin, syringes and cancer drugs.
He said children are the most affected by violent conflict and Gaza now has the highest number of children with disabilities per capita. “Many have lost their limbs and in such situations, surgeries are often being performed without anesthesia.”
According to UNRWA, 26,000 people have suffered life-changing injuries in the past 14 months, requiring rehabilitation assistance.
Louise Wateridge said her organization is busy providing health care in Gaza despite the continued attacks on UN agencies. 6.7 million medical consultations have been given so far in this war.
Fear of famine
Food insecurity is still a major concern in Gaza. The Famine Assessment Committee has already warned of impending famine in northern Gaza.
Emergency Affairs Officer Wateridge said people have been living on bread, pulses and canned food for 14 months. “We have not seen fruits and vegetables here. “Almost 19,000 children have been hospitalized suddenly due to malnutrition in the last four months alone.”
Several security guards were reportedly killed in an attack on a convoy carrying humanitarian aid on Thursday. Out of 70 trucks, only one truck has been supplied with food, hygiene materials and tents.
Relief convoys are finding it difficult to reach their destinations due to looting of relief supplies by criminals and other security risks.
The situation in northern Gaza
The United Nations Humanitarian Office (OCHA) said that since the Israeli military operation intensified in northern Gaza two months ago, all efforts by the United Nations to reach the population in need in the besieged area have been rejected or denied or met with obstacles.
Since October 6, the UN and partner organizations have requested 137 missions to this part of Gaza, 124 of which have been outright rejected. A further 13 missions were approved, but obstacles stood in their way.
This week, since Monday, the UN has requested 16 aid missions, almost all of which have been rejected. A mission that was approved was also prevented from reaching needy populated areas.
The UN office has insisted that humanitarian aid be allowed to flow into the Gaza Strip. This includes the northern Gaza Strip, where thousands of Palestinians have been battling a blockade and disastrous conditions for the past 10 weeks.