UN aid operations in the Gaza Strip resumed on Tuesday, a day after a senior UN official announced that humanitarian activities had come to a halt due to new Israeli evacuation orders that forced the closure of the main UN operations center.
The resumption of aid operations brought a glimmer of hope to the beleaguered population of Gaza, who have been struggling with dire shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. However, aid workers on the ground reported that the situation remained precarious, with frequent interruptions due to ongoing military operations and security concerns. Despite these challenges, UN personnel and partner organizations expressed their determination to continue their life-saving work in the face of overwhelming odds.
On Tuesday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric appeared to downplay the statements of the UN official, who spoke on Monday under the condition of anonymity. When asked if conditions in Gaza had halted UN relief supplies on Monday, Dujarric said, "The conditions in Gaza yesterday made it extremely difficult for us to do our work."
We are doing our best with what we have, he remarked. We've said it from the start: this is aid delivery by seizing every opportunity, every crack that we can fill. As a result, each issue is examined on a daily, hourly basis.
The ongoing conflict has taken a severe toll on Gaza's infrastructure, with many hospitals, schools, and essential services rendered inoperable. Aid workers have been working tirelessly to provide emergency medical care, distribute food and clean water, and offer psychological support to traumatized civilians. The international community has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire to allow for unimpeded humanitarian access, but negotiations have yet to yield a lasting solution.
UN safety and security chief Gilles Michaud said on Tuesday that the Israeli military gave more than 200 UN personnel only a few hours' notice to leave their offices and living quarters in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, over the weekend. He added the timing couldn't be worse, with a huge polio vaccination program set to begin soon and requiring a large number of UN personnel to enter Gaza.
He added in a statement that the UN is committed to remaining in Gaza. Humanitarian aid delivery continues, which is an incredible effort given that we are operating on the edge of bearable danger.
The forced relocation of UN personnel has raised concerns about the ability to coordinate and implement large-scale humanitarian operations effectively. Aid agencies have stressed the importance of maintaining a stable presence in key areas to ensure the continuity of critical services and to respond rapidly to emerging crises. The disruption of the planned polio vaccination campaign is particularly worrying, as health experts warn of the potential for outbreaks of preventable diseases in the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions faced by displaced Gazans.
The International Rescue Committee said on Tuesday that Israel's fresh evacuation orders prompted it and other humanitarian groups to suspend relief activities in an already terrible situation for civilians.
It is critical that humanitarian actors can continue their work without fear of displacement or military activities. "We urge all parties to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access at all times," the organization wrote on X.
The present conflict in the Palestinian enclave began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters rushed into Israeli settlements, killing over 1,200 people and kidnapping roughly 250 hostages, according to Israeli estimates.
Since then, Israel's force has destroyed vast areas of the Palestinian enclave, displacing virtually all of its 2.3 million residents, causing terrible starvation and sickness, and killing at least 40,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials.
The prolonged conflict has had far-reaching consequences beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis. The destruction of homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure has set back Gaza's development by years, if not decades. Economic experts warn of a looming financial catastrophe, with unemployment skyrocketing and the local economy in tatters. The psychological impact on the population, particularly children, is expected to have long-lasting effects, with mental health professionals reporting widespread trauma and a urgent need for comprehensive psychosocial support programs.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israel is progressively telling Gaza's inhabitants to concentrate within the Israeli-designated zone in Al Mawasi, which covers just around 41 square kilometers, or roughly 11% of Gaza's overall territory.
It stated that overcrowding, with a density of 30,000 to 34,000 people per square kilometer, has compounded a critical shortage of resources such as water, sanitation and hygiene supplies, health care, protection, and shelter.
The concentration of Gaza's population into such a small area has raised alarm among human rights organizations and international observers. Concerns have been voiced about the potential for further humanitarian crises, including the spread of diseases and the difficulty of providing adequate aid to such a densely packed population. Some experts have drawn parallels to historical instances of forced population displacement, warning of the long-term social and political ramifications of such measures. As the situation continues to evolve, the international community remains focused on finding a sustainable solution that addresses the immediate humanitarian needs while paving the way for a lasting peace in the region.
