The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, has spoken out strongly against the current humanitarian situation in Gaza. He described the circumstances as "lame, medieval and lethal," condemning the actions that lead to starvation in the region. Lazzarini stated that inviting people who are starving to their death amounts to a war crime and insisted that those responsible must be held accountable. He called the situation a disgrace and a stain on humanity.
In the midst of this crisis, the Global Humanitarian Fund (GHF) reported distributing 30 million meals across its centers in Gaza, claiming that the distribution has occurred "without incident." They emphasized their commitment to feeding the people of Gaza and scaling up their efforts to reach more individuals in need.
The World Food Programme (WFP) highlighted the dire food situation, noting that the 9,000 tonnes of food aid sent in the last month is just a small fraction of what is actually needed. They warned that the desperate need for food has led to large crowds forming along major transport routes, as people try to access humanitarian supplies.
On Tuesday, the Israeli military reported that 85 truckloads of aid entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom and Erez West crossings, with 66 of those loads being collected. However, another 380 truckloads of aid are still waiting for collection by the UN.
This humanitarian crisis follows a military campaign launched by Israel in response to a deadly attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. That attack resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people in southern Israel and left 251 others taken hostage. Since then, the toll in Gaza has been staggering, with reports of at least 55,637 fatalities according to the territory’s health ministry.
The situation remains urgent, with calls for a significant increase in food distribution to stabilize conditions and rebuild trust within communities. The need for action is critical as the humanitarian crisis continues to unfold.