UNRWA Schools in Gaza Providing Shelter for Displaced Families

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) warned on Tuesday that the situation in northern Gaza is facing a "catastrophic" scenario, with bodies strewn across the blockaded streets, hospitals on the verge of running out of blood supplies, and the threat of famine looming. As winter approaches, displaced people are forced to endure hunger in makeshift shelters filled with sewage.

Spokesperson for UNRWA, Tamara Alrifai, stated that as the rainy season approaches, residents in 500,000 flood-prone areas will face even more severe survival challenges, with their living conditions rapidly deteriorating.

Alrifai emphasized that the number of aid supplies entering Gaza has dropped to its lowest point in months. Statistics show that an average of only 37 trucks entered the Gaza Strip daily in October, providing for the basic needs of the 2.2 million residents, which is only about 6% of the pre-war commercial and humanitarian inflow.

The deadline set by the United States for Israel is approaching

Alrifai expressed that the aid situation has not improved but is showing signs of further deterioration, despite the United States setting a deadline of November 12th for Israel to improve the situation. She stressed that UN personnel still cannot access northern Gaza, where people are "begging for food and water."

Alrifai pointed out that 80% of the residents in Gaza (about 1.7 million people) did not receive their daily food rations in October. Last Friday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) issued a severe famine warning for northern Gaza, stating that the region is on the brink of famine. Alrifai noted that as suffering intensifies, "people are gradually losing hope."

Alrifai mentioned that both planned aid missions to northern Gaza this week were denied. These missions were intended to distribute chlorine tablets and assess the conditions of refugee shelters. She revealed that UNRWA personnel have not been able to enter the besieged northern Gaza for over a month.

Aid in a race against time

Alrifai highlighted the "pleas and testimonies" from UN colleagues and doctors in northern Gaza. Doctors reported that several hospitals were bombed, with severe shortages of blood and medicine, bodies lying in the streets, ambulances grounded due to lack of fuel, and patients having to make their way to hospitals on donkey carts.

She stated that all eight wells in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza operated by UNRWA have ceased functioning, leaving residents without access to clean water. She once again called on the Israeli authorities to allow humanitarian aid into these besieged areas, emphasizing that the situation is "urgent."

Only a ceasefire can end the suffering

Last month, the Israeli parliament voted to ban UNRWA from operating in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, and prohibited officials from having any contact with the agency. Alrifai called for an immediate ceasefire by both Hamas and the Israeli military. The suffering inflicted by this war has far exceeded what the people can bear.

She concluded by urging all parties to reach a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible, ensuring the release and safe return of hostages to their homes, and bringing a moment of respite for all people in the Gaza Strip and surrounding areas.