UNITED NATIONS, Oct 23 (IPS) – Since the declaration of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on October 10, families in the Gaza Strip have begun returning to previously inaccessible areas, as humanitarian organizations work to expand aid operations to meet growing needs on the ground, even amid security risks, including unexploded ordnance.
Shelters for displaced people across the enclave continue to bear the brunt of the crisis, as they are severely overcrowded and resources stretched to the limit after two years of conflict. Displacements have increased since the implementation of the ceasefire, with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recording approximately 13,800 displacements towards Gaza City and northern Gaza, and approximately 4,100 movements towards the eastern region of the enclave.
As the winter season threatens to exacerbate already harsh living conditions, the United Nations (UN) and its partners are working to scale up support for winter preparedness by distributing makeshift tents, warm clothing, hygiene kits, blankets and other essential bedding materials. An OCHA spokesperson stated that support for winter preparedness is currently limited by the number of humanitarian deliveries that have been authorized by Israeli authorities, with only a few UN agencies and partner organizations receiving authorization.
“We need thousands of trucks arriving every day, we need all crossings open and bureaucratic obstacles removed,” said Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator. “Aid should never be a bargaining chip, we should not have to ask for access, we should not have to make agreements for aid to arrive.”
As of October 19, the UN and its partners have collected more than 10,638 metric tons of essential humanitarian supplies from the Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings through the UN2720 mechanism. Between October 17 and 19, humanitarian groups unloaded more than 6,455 pallets of aid, two-thirds of which were food and one-fifth of which were water, sanitation and hygiene supplies.
At the same time, UN partners working on a food security assessment in the enclave reported that food packages have been distributed in more than two dozen locations in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis, reaching more than 15,000 families. The packages include essential items that Gazans have been deprived of for months, such as rice, lentils, beans, tomato paste and sunflower oil.
Humanitarian groups have also prepared and distributed more than 944,000 meals through 178 community kitchens, an increase of more than 286,000 meals daily compared to three weeks ago. The UN and its partners are now working to expand distribution points to improve accessibility and ensure families can access food closer to their homes.
On October 20, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that it had transported four pallets of essential medical supplies from its southern warehouse to health facilities across the enclave, including medications for diabetes, chronic diseases, infections, malnutrition and pain treatment. Another UN partner agency also delivered reproductive health kits to patients in southern Gaza, helping more than 8,300 people. Additionally, 1,500 postpartum kits were distributed to Al Awda Nuseirat Hospital to support maternal health services for the next three months.
That same day, Australian philanthropy Minderoo Foundation announced its pledge to contribute A$10 million to humanitarian efforts in Gaza. Minderoo founder Dr Andrew Forrest said this commitment would have an “urgent focus on care settings for Palestinian children and the enormous psychosocial needs caused by the war”.
“This is more than a donation: it is a vote of confidence in the work of the United Nations and our partners to save lives, and in humanity’s ability to act when it matters most,” Fletcher said. “Dr. Forrest and the Minderoo Foundation are helping us expand our response to the ceasefire. We will match their commitment with every ounce of effort to bring food, water, medicine, shelter and dignity to Gaza families.”
Maternal and neonatal health has been severely affected by the lack of essential food and health supplies, and 11,500 pregnant women face catastrophic starvation conditions. To address this issue in the immediate sense, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has brought aid through the Kerem Shalom crossing and distributed medical supplies, including incubators and fetal monitoring machines. UNFPA Deputy Executive Director Andrew Saberton told reporters on October 22 that there was much more assistance waiting at the borders, such as safe birth supplies and hygiene items, and this would require all border crossings to be opened and all impediments to getting aid into northern and southern Gaza removed.
“As we look to recovery, we need to restore Gaza’s health and protection services for women and girls. This means rebuilding maternity wards for the 130 births that occur every day,” Saberton said.
Despite ongoing humanitarian efforts, the security situation in Gaza remains highly volatile, with experts stressing that ongoing hostilities and large quantities of explosives on the ground pose daily threats to thousands of Palestinians. On October 21, Luke David Irving, Head of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, told reporters that the agency has identified more than 560 explosive remnants of war in areas now accessible to civilians, and emphasized that “the full extent of the contamination in Gaza will not be known until a comprehensive study can be carried out.”
As of October 21, UNMAS has recorded approximately 328 deaths as a direct result of contact with explosive devices, and the actual number is expected to be much higher. According to Irving, these risks are expected to worsen as recovery and reconstruction efforts begin, with increased movement triggering munitions hidden in the rubble.
It is estimated that between 50 and 60 million tons of debris may have been contaminated with explosive devices in the last two years. Irving said UNMAS has reached more than 460,000 people with risk education services, including communities in displacement shelters and health centres, and has produced more than 400,000 information materials, including leaflets and stickers. Irving also highlighted the need to increase funding for cleanup efforts, estimating that between $14 and $15 million will be needed to continue operations over the next six months.
IPS UN Office Report
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