“The humanitarian situation and crisis in Gaza is far from being over,” said Olga Cherevko from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs during a briefing to journalists in Jerusalem on Friday. “For Palestinians in Gaza, life continues to be defined by displacement, trauma, uncertainty and deprivation.”
She added that severe winter storms have compounded the suffering, destroying fragile shelters and claiming lives, particularly among children vulnerable to the cold.
Since the truce between Israel and Hamas took effect, more than 165 000 metric tonnes of assistance have entered Gaza. Humanitarian teams have repaired roads, rehabilitated hospitals, cleared rubble and reopened distribution points.
“We celebrated our gains and showed once again that when we are enabled to do so, we deliver,” Cherevko said. During the first two months of the ceasefire, more than 1.3 million people received food parcels and over 1.5 million hot meals were distributed, helping to stabilise food security.
However, she warned that progress could be reversed at any moment. “Airstrikes, shelling and armed clashes continue, with civilian casualties reported daily. Most of Gaza lies in ruins, and the needs far outpace our efforts to meet them.”
According to Cherevko, restrictions on the entry of certain supplies and limitations on humanitarian operations have reduced aid to what she described as “Band-Aids to a wound that can only be closed with proper care.” Winter flooding has further undermined achievements, as tents and tarpaulins cannot replace permanent housing.
Less than 40% of Gaza’s healthcare facilities are currently operational, despite efforts to reopen clinics. Educational materials remain blocked from entry, leaving children without schooling for a second consecutive year. Delays at border crossings and limited humanitarian corridors continue to hamper assistance.
Cherevko stressed that a ceasefire alone does not equal recovery. “Emergency response and its transition to early recovery cannot wait for political solutions. A ceasefire in itself is not a recovery plan,” she said.
She called on all parties to respect the truce, protect civilians and guarantee predictable and unimpeded humanitarian access. Donors must also continue funding early recovery, she added.
“The choices made today will determine whether this pause leads to stability or becomes just another quiet before the next storm,” Cherevko warned.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
