The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has issued a grave warning about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stating that Israeli restrictions have left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians struggling to access food, clean water, and other basic necessities.
According to a recent UNRWA statement, the agency emphasized that “safe and equitable access to clean water is an essential human right.” It reported that despite immense logistical and security challenges, it has managed to provide water to around 250,000 displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip.
However, the situation remains dire. Thousands of families in Gaza continue to face acute shortages of food, clean water, medical supplies, and sanitation facilities, largely due to the ongoing Israeli blockade and restrictions on humanitarian aid deliveries. UNRWA said its operations have been “severely hindered” by these measures, which prevent the regular entry of essential goods into the enclave.
The agency’s officials warned that the lack of water purification and sanitation systems is increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, particularly among children and the elderly. “People are forced to rely on unsafe water sources, which could trigger a major public health emergency if the restrictions are not lifted soon,” the statement noted.
Israel has maintained strict control over Gaza’s border crossings, citing security concerns, but humanitarian organizations argue that the restrictions amount to collective punishment. The blockade has been in place for years, but aid agencies say the current situation is among the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory.
UNRWA and other UN bodies have repeatedly appealed for unrestricted humanitarian access, calling on Israel to allow the entry of life-saving supplies. “Our teams are doing everything possible, but without consistent aid deliveries, our ability to sustain relief operations is collapsing,” the agency warned.
The agency also reiterated that the international community must intervene to prevent a complete humanitarian breakdown. “Every day, more families are running out of food, clean water, and hope,” UNRWA stated, urging global powers to pressure Israel to ease restrictions on aid and essential goods.
