UN: Regional tensions distract from dire situation in Gaza

NEW YORK, April 05 (YPA) – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Sunday that rising tensions in the Middle East are diverting international attention from Gaza, where the humanitarian situation remains “extremely serious” despite a ceasefire.

OCHA spokesperson Olga Cherevko said regional developments, including the US-Israeli war on Iran, have shifted focus away from Gaza, noting that this decline in attention began even after the ceasefire took effect.

Daily deadly shelling continues, and Israel is blocking the agreed deliveries of food, medicine, medical supplies, and shelter materials to Gaza, home to about 2.4 million Palestinians, including 1.5 million displaced people, living in catastrophic conditions.

Cherevko emphasized that living conditions in the territory are “very difficult,” with most residents displaced from their homes and thousands still living in shelters and among rubble.

She added that attacks and shelling occur almost daily, leaving people in a constant state of fear. Humanitarian access remains limited, with more than half of Gaza inaccessible due to the presence of Israeli forces.

“Despite efforts, only around 42 percent of health facilities are operational, and most only partially,” she said, noting that Israeli restrictions on crossings hinder the delivery of equipment and materials needed to restore the health system.

Cherevko also said the World Health Organization is facilitating medical evacuations for patients, but the process remains complex. Israeli restrictions prevent international humanitarian workers from entering Gaza, and any further disruption of aid operations could have “devastating consequences” for the Palestinian population.

@E.Y.M