The United Nations has issued a dire warning that approximately 14,000 infants in Gaza could die within 48 hours if immediate humanitarian aid is not delivered. This alarming statement comes amid an 11-week Israeli blockade that has severely restricted the flow of essential supplies into the region.“We need to flood the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid,” the UN’s undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs said meanwhile addressing the European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels on Tuesday, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said relief organisations have run out of words:
“But the worst in all this is that we are confronted with a situation: If there is political will, the war can stop. The siege being imposed on Gaza can be lifted,”
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described the situation as “catastrophic,” emphasizing the urgent need for baby food and healthcare. Despite the recent entry of around 100 aid trucks, this number falls significantly short of the pre-war average of 500 trucks daily. The World Health Organization reports that two million Gazans are facing starvation, with food shipments remaining blocked at the Israeli border.
The blockade has drawn sharp criticism from international leaders. The UK, France, and Canada have condemned Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian access as “wholly inadequate” and have threatened further diplomatic measures if the offensive continues. The ongoing military operations have severely impacted Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure. Major hospitals, including Nasser Hospital and Al Awda hospital, have been targeted in airstrikes, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. UN officials are calling for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access to prevent further loss of life. The situation remains dire, with widespread destruction, critical healthcare facilities targeted, and displaced civilians facing extreme hardship.
