Hunger and disease are spreading through Gaza, warns the UN.

247 - The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is worsening alarmingly. According to a report published by the Prensa Latina agency this Wednesday (17), the United Nations (UN) warned that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are facing hunger, disease and the collapse of basic services as a direct consequence of the Israeli military offensive.

Adnan Abu Hasna, press officer for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), stated in an interview with the Shebah news agency that the current scenario represents a deterioration "at an unprecedented rate" and described the situation as a "post-disaster" stage.

According to Abu Hasna, there has been a sharp increase in cases of illnesses caused by malnutrition and the consumption of contaminated water. "The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a post-disaster stage," a UNRWA spokesperson warned.

Despite the widespread collapse, the agency cautiously received recent announcements from the European Union regarding an agreement with Israel that, in theory, will allow the resumption of activities by international organizations in the region.

“We hope that this commitment will translate into action on the ground, with hundreds of trucks carrying food and medical aid entering Gaza daily, as well as the equipment needed to repair the water desalination plants,” Abu Hasna stated.

The UNRWA advisor criticized the scarcity of aid allowed into the besieged territory. According to him, since May 17, only 11 tons of supplies have reached Gaza—an amount that, under normal conditions, could be delivered in a single day.

"We are working within the UN system to pressure the country to reopen its borders and thus increase the amount of humanitarian supplies," he added.

Abu Hasna also condemned the plan devised by Israel and the administration of US President Donald Trump to distribute food in the Palestinian enclave. He called the mechanism "a resounding failure in addressing growing hunger," pointing out that the measure suffers from a lack of experience, absence of data, and logistical deficiencies.

More than ineffective, the plan would, according to him, serve the political interests of the Israeli government. "The real objective is to push the residents of Gaza southward, in preparation for their deportation, and that is why we refuse to cooperate," he stated.

This accusation adds to the warning issued by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which this week blamed the Israeli offensive for the destruction of entire families, the spread of pandemics, the worsening of poverty, and mass population displacement.

According to the agency, the accumulated crises in health and social services have caused increased stress among Palestinians and led to a rise in domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and abuse.

“We are working in extremely difficult conditions… There are not enough safe spaces for women and their children,” warned Suhair, who works at a shelter in the province of Deir El-Balah, also interviewed by Shebah.

The UN and its agencies reiterate their appeal to the international community for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors to ensure the supply of food, medicine, drinking water and shelter to civilian victims of the war.