The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply due to a series of evacuation orders issued throughout August, which have severely impacted aid delivery and essential services.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres, reported that these new evacuation directives have critically undermined operations at a key humanitarian hub in Deir al Balah, which was established following the evacuation of the Rafah hub in May.
The ongoing evacuations have led to a dramatic 85 percent reduction in water production in Deir al Balah, as access to vital water sources in the evacuated areas has been cut off. This shortage has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, affecting thousands of residents who rely on this resource.
The health crisis is equally concerning. After confirming a polio case, reports indicate that at least 50,000 children born since the onset of the crisis are unlikely to have received necessary immunizations due to the collapse of Gaza’s health system. In response, UNICEF, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has delivered 1.2 million doses of Polio Vaccine Type 2 to Gaza. These vaccines are intended to immunize over 640,000 children and curb the spread of the disease.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has also faced severe operational challenges. Escalating conflict, restricted border crossings, and extensive damage to infrastructure have significantly hampered food distribution efforts. In the past two months, WFP has managed to deliver only half of the required 24,000 metric tons of food aid for 1.1 million people. Additionally, the organization has been forced to reduce the contents of food parcels due to ongoing logistical constraints.
