UN Warns Gaza Faces More Deaths Due to Fuel Shortage

Photo: AP

The United Nations (UN) has warned that many more people in Gaza, including children, could die if the fuel blockade continues. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that people are still being injured or killed in the ongoing conflict, with some being shot near aid distribution points. These locations are meant to be safe for delivering humanitarian aid, but are still under attack.

OCHA stressed that Israel must allow more fuel to be delivered to Gaza, especially to the northern regions. Without enough fuel, life-saving operations will stop, leading to more deaths. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) added that if the fuel blockade lasts longer, children will face a serious risk of dying from dehydration.

Fuel is crucial to pump, treat, and distribute water to over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza. Due to the blockade, water systems are collapsing, and the number of children needing treatment for malnutrition has increased by almost 50% in just one month.

Currently, some fuel is being stored in Rafah to keep critical services running in southern Gaza, but this supply is running low. OCHA mentioned that while they were able to successfully deliver some fuel on Monday, more is urgently needed to prevent disaster.

There is also growing concern over the mental health of children in Gaza. Many are suffering from psychological stress caused by the violence and lack of food. The UN and its partners have been offering support to help children cope with fear and anxiety. Over 2,000 caregivers have also received mental health support.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has trained many workers in Gaza to provide psychological first aid and offer emotional support to those affected by the crisis.

In addition, more people in Gaza are being displaced. The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of three neighborhoods in northern Gaza, affecting around 30,000 people. Many shelters are in urgent need of repairs, and due to the blockade, no materials for rebuilding are allowed into Gaza.

The UN has tried to deliver aid and support 14 times inside Gaza, but six of those attempts were blocked. Despite these challenges, humanitarian workers are still able to conduct health and nutrition programs and remove waste from the area.