The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, announced on Wednesday that Israel keeps blocking humanitarian missions meant to deliver life-saving supplies, like food and medicine, into northern Gaza. Hospitals are reported to be without electricity, which has brought injured patients to a standstill.

Overcrowded Shelters and Displaced Persons

Lazzarini pointed out that the condition of UNRWA shelters is abysmal and said that the displaced population was forced to live in toilets due to overcrowding. He also quoted distressing reports of people seeking a way out from the fought areas getting killed.

Escalation of Israeli Military Activities

The Israeli military has escalated its onslaught in north Gaza, bombing neighborhoods where the faction Hamas claims its militants are operating. Residents and medics said that Israeli troops were besieging hospitals and shelters for internally displaced people, making the humanitarian crisis even graver.

Violence at Medical Facilities

Medics at the northern Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital reported that Israeli troops stormed a school with men inside and then lit it on fire. At least ten people were reported killed by Israeli artillery fire that struck a camp for displaced persons in the Jabalia refugee camp, an area on the outskirts of Gaza City that is densely populated.

Challenges in Independent Reporting

The Israeli government has cut access to international media in Gaza, causing problems in the verification of the information on the ground. Local journalists report casualties, including a child and a woman, who died in a tented camp, according to video footage.

Lorries Bearing Aid and Access Issues

In a statement released yesterday, the Israeli entity responsible for administering access from Gaza, COGAT, stated that 41 aid lorries and six fuel tankers were delivered into northern Gaza yesterday. On the other hand, the UN said no aid was permitted into the region during the first two weeks of October as the Israeli military campaign began.

Long Overdue Humanitarian Access

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs was frustrated as it was barred from the Falouja area in Jabalia for four consecutive days. In an emotional appeal for aid, a resident of Jabalia claimed he was one of 32 people, including young children, who were trapped under rubble caused by a recent air strike.

Growing Humanitarian Crisis

The ICRC said that, indeed, this is unbearable for the estimated 400,000 people of northern Gaza. Most of the residents, elderly and sick, cannot flee because of the heavy fighting, evacuation orders, and heavy shells that fall on both sides.’ It left people trapped in unsafe conditions with no means of escape.

Healthcare System Overwhelmed

Hospitals are full of patients and experiencing acute fuel, electricity, and water shortages. Hadeel Obeid, the head of nursing at the Indonesian hospital, noted that the facility had not received food supplies for four consecutive days, which underlines the extent of humanitarian needs.

Background of the Conflict

Israel started the military conflict against Hamas after a severe attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 and capturing many hostages. Later, over 42,000 have reportedly been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.