UN continues to call for critical “unrestricted access” into Gaza as weather conditions worsen
Despite slight activity on the ground, the IOM and OCHA warn that more aid is needed to combat rainstorms and freezing temperatures.
United Nations
Sphinx News: Ahmed Ali
The IOM (International Organization for Migration) warned in a statement today that “lifesaving shelter assistance cannot reach people at scale” in Gaza without “urgent, unrestricted access.”
As reports suggest hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinian families are struggling amid freezing winter temperatures and storms that have unleashed ferocious winds and substantial rain on their fragile shelters, the agency added that “winter storms are overwhelming displaced families in Gaza.”
In its most recent reports, OCHA (the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) echoed the weather concerns of the IOM, stating that “nearly 55,000 families have been affected so far by the most recent rains across Gaza, with their belongings and shelters damaged or destroyed in the storm.” Noting the overwhelming repercussions severe weather conditions have particularly had on Palestinian children, OCHA added, “The rainstorm has also damaged dozens of child-friendly spaces, disrupting or suspending activities related to child protection.” Assessed by the Coordination Office, the rainstorm has directly “affected approximately 30,000 children across Gaza.”
With its best efforts to scale up humanitarian operations by increasing both water supply and sanitation efforts, OCHA alerts “that ongoing impediments continue to hamper humanitarians’ efforts.” Therefore, the United Nations reiterates its call for Israeli authorities to open all crossings and allow for all humanitarian aid to enter the besieged Strip.
