Palestinians Face Grave Risks Amid Gaza Hostilities and Siege

Palestinians Face Grave Risks Amid Gaza Hostilities and Siege

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has raised alarm over the escalating risks faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid ongoing hostilities and a severe siege.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini reported that military operations in northern Gaza have displaced over 130,000 people in the past seven weeks. “The ongoing conflict continues to uproot families, putting civilians, especially those in the besieged northern regions, in grave danger,” he said.

In northern Gaza, including Gaza City, a critical shortage of cooking gas has forced families to burn waste for fuel. This practice increases the risk of respiratory infections at a time when healthcare services are minimal, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Surging Food Prices and Bread Shortages

The World Food Programme (WFP) reported a worsening hunger crisis, with prices of basic food items surging by over 1,000 percent compared to pre-conflict levels. Bread, a staple for many families, has become increasingly scarce.

While the WFP managed to deliver some wheat flour to bakeries in Gaza this week, inconsistencies have caused bakeries to shut down intermittently due to a lack of flour and fuel. “It’s critical that bakeries remain open and that the flow of essential supplies, including wheat and fuel, is sustained,” the agency stated.

Critical Shelter Shortages

UN humanitarian partners reported a severe shortage of adequate shelter for hundreds of thousands of people displaced across Gaza. Less than a quarter of shelter needs have been met, leaving nearly one million people at risk of exposure to harsh conditions as winter approaches.

“Some 545,000 people are living in damaged buildings and makeshift shelters,” OCHA reported, underscoring the urgency of allowing thousands of tarpaulins and sealing-off kits to enter the Strip without delay.

In the southern region, rains have flooded shelters along the shoreline in Al-Qarara, displacing hundreds of families to Hamad City in Khan Younis over the past six days.

Increasing Tensions in the West Bank

OCHA also noted a deteriorating situation for Palestinians in the West Bank. From November 19 to November 25, Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians, including one child. Seven of the nine were killed during a 48-hour Israeli operation in Jenin.