With just weeks to go before winter arrives, hundreds of thousands of families in the Gaza Strip are facing a severe humanitarian crisis. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has indicated that the population lacks adequate shelter and access to basic goods. The situation is alarming, as only a portion of essential supplies has managed to enter the territory, jeopardizing a relief plan designed to protect 1.45 million Gazans displaced by the conflict.
The devastation in the region is widespread. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that only 13% of agricultural lands remain intact, and much of this area continues to be inaccessible due to the presence of Israeli military forces. Agriculture, which used to account for 10% of the local economy, is nearly paralyzed, with 79% of greenhouses, 87% of wells, and 86% of agricultural infrastructure damaged or destroyed.
Restrictions on humanitarian aid continue to complicate the situation. Between October 10 and November 3, UN agencies managed to deliver only 32,500 tons of assistance, while over a hundred requests were rejected by Israel. Additionally, fuel shortages and the destruction of warehouses have hindered the distribution of aid.
In terms of water and sanitation, more than 85% of water facilities have been damaged, and none of the wastewater treatment plants are operational. The UN Relief and Works Agency has been able to distribute around 1,400 cubic meters of water daily, although this practice is becoming increasingly unsustainable.
The healthcare system also faces a dire situation, with vaccination coverage dropping from 98% to less than 70% following the destruction of 31 health centers. International organizations have launched campaigns to vaccinate 44,000 children with essential vaccines, warning of an increase in respiratory diseases and malnutrition in makeshift camps, as well as rising child labor and indebtedness as survival strategies.
Food assistance remains clearly insufficient. The World Food Programme distributes 1.2 million meals daily, but many families do not receive enough to survive. The war has left a devastating toll, with 61 million tons of rubble significantly complicating any reconstruction efforts.
The economic and social impacts are alarming, with thousands of families losing their main source of income. Although there has been a slight increase in access to food, one in five families continues to consume only one meal a day. UN agencies insist that reconstruction must go beyond immediate needs, advocating for the restoration of not just infrastructure, but also systems and services.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank, tensions persist with acts of violence from settlers and Israeli military forces. UNICEF has documented the deaths of 47 children in that territory, and political tensions are exacerbating the economic situation, increasing dependence on humanitarian aid.
UN agencies have warned of a growing socioeconomic imbalance between urban and rural areas, which severely affects farming communities. Insecurity and restrictions continue to limit recovery efforts in these areas, where access to supplies and markets is becoming increasingly difficult.
Without a reduction in mobility restrictions and progress toward lasting stability, the situation in Gaza and the West Bank could worsen further with the arrival of winter. The desperation of millions for decent living conditions and the possibility of reconstruction poses an urgent call to action for the international community.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish