The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a stark warning on Wednesday regarding the deteriorating living conditions of displaced families in the Gaza Strip.
The organization emphasized that harsh winter storms are further compounding the already dire situation, at a time when humanitarian aid delivery remains severely hampered.
Adding to these environmental challenges, Olga Cherevko, OCHA’s spokesperson in Gaza, reported that the scale of humanitarian needs is outpacing the ability of international organizations to provide relief. Despite the ongoing efforts of the UN and its partners, Cherevko highlighted a widening gap between the urgent requirements on the ground and the actual response capacity.
This shortfall is largely attributed to persistent obstacles imposed by Israeli occupation authorities.
According to Cherevko, the humanitarian community faces a limited volume of incoming supplies and an expanding list of prohibited items, including heavy machinery and essential spare parts needed to repair devastated infrastructure.
Furthermore, the spokesperson pointed to significant operational constraints, noting that the number of accessible routes and border crossings for aid remains critically restricted. She concluded by stressing the urgent need to remove all such barriers to ensure that aid can reach those in need, especially as the arrival of winter intensifies the vulnerability of Gaza’s displaced population.
