“Humanitarian situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating” – UNRWA warns
Displaced Palestinians return to their homes as they walk near houses destroyed in an Israeli strike during the conflict, amid the temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip November 24, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has issued an urgent warning about the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, stating that “famine is imminent in areas within the northern Gaza Strip.”
In its call for immediate action, UNRWA emphasized that the crisis requires swift intervention “within days” to prevent and alleviate what it describes as a “catastrophic situation.”
The agency highlighted that “immediate, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access and a ceasefire now are needed more than ever” to deliver essential aid and prevent widespread famine. Northern Gaza has been hit especially hard by ongoing hostilities, limiting food, medical supplies, and other critical resources reaching civilians.
The warning comes amid growing international concerns about the escalating humanitarian toll in Gaza, as intensified conflict disrupts already strained supply chains and severely restricts humanitarian operations.
UNRWA’s statement adds urgency to ongoing diplomatic calls for a ceasefire and underscores the need for unrestricted access to support the affected population.
With food and other resources depleting rapidly, the agency’s appeal underscores the high stakes for international and regional actors working to prevent further tragedy in the region.
