UN agencies have said Gaza urgently needs more humanitarian assistance as Palestinian authorities reported that the death toll in the territory during the Israeli offensive there had risen to more than 24,000.
The World Food Programme, Unicef and the World Health Organization said new entry routes needed to be opened to Gaza, more trucks needed to be allowed in each day, and aid workers and those seeking aid needed to be allowed to move around safely.
The UN agencies did not directly blame Israel but said aid delivery was hindered by the opening of too few border crossings from Israel, a slow vetting process for trucks and goods going into Gaza, and continuing fighting.
Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, launched after the militant group's 7 October attack on southern Israel which killed 1,200, mainly civilians, has led to massive damage to swaths of the territory and displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million population. Many have been forced to move five, six or seven times, losing most of their possessions and money as they seek safety.
In Rafah and Khan Younis, in the south of Gaza, tents and makeshift dwellings cover almost all available ground, with multiple families crammed into apartments, in UNrun shelters in schools or sleeping on the floors of hospitals.
"There's no food, no water, no heating. We are dying from the cold," said Mohammad. Kahil, displaced from northern Gaza to Rafah.
Hussein Awda, 37, fled northern Gaza after his house was destroyed and had many relatives killed at the beginning of the war.
This story is from the January 17, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the January 17, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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