The Voice News: The United Nations has declared that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic and the worst since the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants began 19 months ago, despite the recent resumption of limited aid deliveries. The UN warns that famine and widespread suffering continue to loom over the densely populated Palestinian enclave.
After enduring an 11-week-long blockade, Israel lifted restrictions on Gaza 12 days ago following mounting international pressure, allowing a limited flow of humanitarian aid led by UN agencies to resume. However, the aid deliveries remain insufficient to meet the overwhelming needs of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many of whom face shortages of food, clean water, fuel, and medical supplies.
On Monday, a new initiative—the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—was launched to facilitate aid distribution. Backed by the United States and Israel, the foundation has sparked controversy among Palestinian factions and international observers who question whether the initiative might politicize or restrict aid access.
Despite these efforts, UN officials emphasize that the blockade’s long-term impact has devastated Gaza’s economy and infrastructure, severely limiting access to essential services and basic goods. Health facilities continue to struggle with critical shortages of medicine and electricity, while the destruction of farmland and water systems has compounded the risk of famine.
UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths underscored the urgency of increasing aid delivery and lifting restrictions to prevent a full-scale humanitarian disaster. “What we are seeing in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe,” Griffiths said. “Limited aid is better than none, but it is nowhere near enough to meet the needs of the people living under siege.”
The international community continues to call for sustained, unhindered access for humanitarian agencies and for renewed diplomatic efforts to find a lasting resolution to the conflict. Meanwhile, Gazans face an uncertain future amid ongoing political tensions and the slow pace of reconstruction.