Life in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating as Palestinians have endured more than a month without humanitarian assistance. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has declared the situation as likely the most critical in the past 18 months since hostilities erupted.
Since March 2, no food, water, medicines, or commercial goods have entered the enclave due to an Israeli blockade and renewed military actions against Hamas throughout the region. This blockade has exacerbated the already severe conditions faced by the population, which relies heavily on humanitarian aid.
Destruction and Displacement
Two months ago, Euronews reported on 22-year-old Mohammed, who returned to northern Gaza after a long period of displacement. He and his family were able to go home following a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that lasted eight weeks. During this ceasefire, Mohammed made the arduous journey north along the Netzarim corridor, which had been reopened by Israel in February, alongside over half a million fellow Palestinians.
Upon returning, Mohammed discovered that his home was completely destroyed. Despite this loss, he expressed gratitude for having a roof—however fragile—for his family. He remarked, “We are living on a miracle and risking everything, risking myself, my family, my sister’s children, just to shelter ourselves from the hardships of winter.” Unfortunately, just a month after the ceasefire collapsed, Mohammed and his family found themselves displaced once again, now living in a tent.
Life under Threat
Mohammed recounted the terrifying moment when strikes began unexpectedly during the night. He recalled, “It was the 20th day of Ramadan I believe (20 March), and we were up to eat something quickly before beginning our fast.” His home was targeted through a method known as “knock on the roof,” which the Israeli military employs to warn civilians of impending strikes on buildings identified as military targets. This tactic has drawn significant criticism for endangering civilian lives and property.
“If this war ever ends, I have nowhere left (to live),” Mohammed lamented. “It is now all rubble, unlivable.”
After his home was struck, Mohammed’s family was left without shelter for two weeks. He shared that he only recently managed to secure a tent for his family to use, albeit temporarily. “The tent isn’t even mine; it belongs to someone else, and I am just allowed to temporarily use it,” he explained.
However, even the tent camp has not been a safe refuge. Mohammed reported that a shelling incident occurred nearby, targeting an area just a few tents away from where they are staying. The ongoing blockade has also driven food and medicine prices to alarming heights, leaving Mohammed with only about a kilogram of rice daily to feed himself, his mother, sister, and her four children.
UNICEF has raised serious concerns about the implications of this crisis, warning of potential surges in malnutrition and disease, which could greatly increase the risk of preventable deaths among children. The organization highlighted that only limited quantities of baby formula are available for approximately 400 children, while nearly 10,000 infants under six months are not exclusively breastfed.
Israeli authorities maintain that the blockade aims to curtail Hamas’ resources and pressure the group to release hostages taken during the attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which initiated the current conflict. Nonetheless, Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, emphasized the dire need for aid, stating, “UNICEF has thousands of pallets of aid waiting to enter the Gaza Strip. Most of this aid is lifesaving, yet instead of saving lives, it is sitting in storage. It must be allowed in immediately. This is not a choice or charity; it is an obligation under international law.”
Last week, the leaders of seven UN humanitarian organizations released a joint statement urging immediate action to protect civilians in Gaza. They condemned the ongoing violence, stating, “We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life.”