The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has issued a dire warning about the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of civilians face severe hunger, disease, and displacement due to Israel’s ongoing military offensive and blockade.

UNRWA advisor Adnan Abu Hasna reported a sharp rise in malnutrition-related illnesses and waterborne diseases, exacerbated by the collapse of sanitation infrastructure and the lack of clean water. Since March 2, Israel has blocked the entry of fuel, medicine, and hygiene supplies, leaving over 6,000 aid trucks stranded outside Gaza.

Only 11,000 tons of aid have entered Gaza since May 17, a volume UNRWA says should be delivered daily to meet basic needs. “We hope this commitment translates into action on the ground,” Abu Hasna stated, calling for the daily entry of hundreds of trucks, medical equipment, and repair teams for water desalination plants.

The European Union recently brokered a deal with Israel to reopen border crossings, increase aid deliveries, and restore vital infrastructure, but UNRWA insists that concrete implementation is urgently needed.

UNRWA also condemned the Israel–U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), calling its aid distribution model a “complete failure”. According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 875 Palestinians have been killed while trying to access food near GHF sites, including 674 deaths in the immediate vicinity of its facilities.

Abu Hasna accused the Israeli government of using the GHF to politically manipulate aid, alleging that its true aim is to push civilians southward in preparation for mass deportation. “We refuse to cooperate,” he said.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) also raised alarms about the collapse of social and health services, reporting spikes in domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and mental health crises.

UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described Gaza as a “graveyard of children and starving people”, warning that without immediate intervention, thousands more lives will be lost.

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