As the conflict in the Gaza Strip continues to escalate, the United Nations has sounded the alarm on the dire humanitarian situation unfolding in the region. UN agencies have reported that the two main crossings into the southern Gaza Strip, Rafah and Kerem Shalom, have been shut down, effectively cutting off the Palestinian enclave from the outside world and limiting the flow of essential aid and supplies.
Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the UN’s humanitarian office, has painted a bleak picture of the situation on the ground. “The two main arteries for getting aid into Gaza are currently choked off,” he told journalists, adding that UN agencies have very low stocks inside the Gaza Strip, as humanitarian supplies have been consumed immediately.
The enclave is now facing a critical shortage of fuel, with Laerke warning that if no fuel comes in for a prolonged period, “it would be a very effective way of putting the humanitarian operation in its grave.” The UN has also reported that no exceptions are being made for sick and injured patients, further exacerbating the already dire situation.
While some non-fuel supplies have been able to enter Gaza via the northern Erez crossing in recent days, the UN agencies have deemed this insufficient and difficult to deliver to Rafah, as it requires crossing active combat zones. James Elder, a spokesperson for the United Nations children’s agency, has warned that “if Rafah gate closes for an extended period, it’s hard to see how famine in Gaza can be averted.”
The closure of these vital crossings has effectively trapped the people of Gaza, cutting them off from the outside world and depriving them of the essential resources they need to survive. The UN’s dire warnings underscore the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict and the restoration of humanitarian access to the region.