The situation in Rafah, Gaza has become increasingly dire, with food distribution suspended due to insecurity and a lack of supplies, according to the UN.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) has reported that its distribution center and a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse are inaccessible because of the ongoing Israeli military operation against Hamas in eastern Rafah.
Since the operation began on May 6, approximately 810,000 of the over one million people taking refuge in Rafah have fled. Unrwa also highlighted that its health centers have not received medical supplies in the past ten days, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Complicating matters, the US has noted that none of the 569 tonnes of food and other aid that entered Gaza via a newly completed floating pier have been distributed to Palestinians by aid organizations.
Additionally, on Saturday, desperate crowds looted several WFP lorries transporting aid from the pier to a warehouse in Deir al-Balah, leading the WFP to pause deliveries as new routes are planned to avoid such incidents.
The health situation is equally critical, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting that the largest partially functional hospital in northern Gaza, Kamal Adwan hospital, was hit four times on Tuesday amid battles between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in nearby Jabalia.
Medics at the hospital reported that Israeli missiles struck its emergency department, forcing staff to move patients to the street outside. Furthermore, al-Awda hospital in Jabalia has been besieged since Sunday, trapping dozens of staff, patients, and their companions inside.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is severe, with critical shortages of food, medical supplies, and safe havens for civilians amidst ongoing conflict.
