Gaza On The Brink: Humanitarian Crisis Worsens One Month After Aid Cutoff

 

One month after Israel halted humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian crisis has reached alarming levels. Aid agencies and international organizations report worsening conditions for the over two million civilians in the enclave, as Israeli military operations continue and access to basic necessities deteriorates.

Hunger, Displacement, and Disease Spread

The United Nations and multiple NGOs say hunger is rapidly spreading. Access to clean water has dropped significantly, and unsanitary living conditions in displacement camps are contributing to disease outbreaks. Fleas and mites have infested makeshift shelters along Gaza’s coast.

Over the past two weeks alone, more than 280,000 people have been newly displaced, with two-thirds of Gaza now classified as inaccessible or dangerous. Many people are living in public spaces, near garbage dumps, or in damaged buildings on the brink of collapse.

Assem Al-Nabeeh, a Gaza City municipal spokesperson, said that only 40% of the city had water access even before recent evacuation orders. Since then, 175,000 tonnes of waste have accumulated, worsening living conditions.

Food and Water Shortages

The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that all 25 subsidized bakeries in Gaza have shut down due to a lack of cooking gas and flour. Over a million people went without food parcels in March, and remaining supplies of hot meals are expected to last no more than two weeks.

The WFP estimates that 89,000 tonnes of food are stuck outside Gaza, unable to enter due to the ongoing blockade. Inside the strip, food prices have soared — wheat flour, for instance, costs 450% more than it did just weeks ago.

Water access has become critical, with two-thirds of households unable to secure even six liters of drinking water per person per day. Repairs to water systems made during the ceasefire have since stalled due to continued hostilities.

Aid Access and Oversight

The Israeli military shut off humanitarian aid as part of a strategy to pressure Hamas, citing concerns over aid diversion. A new monitoring system, proposed by Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), aims to ensure that aid is not intercepted by Hamas. However, its implementation hinges on a ceasefire agreement or a government directive — neither of which are currently in place.

In the meantime, aid continues to pile up outside Gaza’s borders.

Hospitals Overwhelmed and Children at Risk

Hospitals are struggling under the weight of mass casualties. The World Health Organization says some facilities, like Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, are treating nearly three times their usual patient load. Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital reported receiving 128 wounded people in a single day — far beyond its capacity.

Dr. Fadel Naeem, the hospital’s director, said patients are being prioritized by likelihood of survival. “Tragically, while waiting for care, some of the wounded died due to a lack of resources, operating rooms, and medical staff,” he stated.

Children have been hit especially hard. According to UNICEF, an average of 100 children are killed or injured daily. The agency warns that children are living in severe deprivation, many without clothing or shelter.

Global Response and Outlook

While the Biden administration had previously urged Israel to ease restrictions on humanitarian aid, that pressure has faded under the new U.S. administration. Meanwhile, aid groups like the Norwegian Refugee Council say they’ve run out of basic supplies to distribute — including tents — despite continued mass displacements.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), summarized the situation bluntly: “People are starving, chaos and looting have returned. People are exhausted as they continue to be locked up in a tiny piece of land.”

As the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to spiral, aid agencies stress that only an immediate and sustained flow of aid — combined with a lasting ceasefire — can prevent further catastrophe.