The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has sounded the alarm over a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, reporting that more than 66,000 children are suffering from severe malnutrition due to Israel's continued blockade and starvation tactics.

UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna stated on Tuesday that Israel’s closure of Gaza’s crossings for over two months has led to a catastrophic shortage of food and aid. “Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are eating one meal every two or three days,” he said, describing the situation as a man-made disaster.

Since March 2, Israeli authorities have completely closed Gaza’s crossings, cutting off the entry of food, medicine, fuel, and humanitarian aid, prompting a rapid deterioration in the health and well-being of the civilian population. According to medical sources in Gaza, the death toll from starvation has risen to at least 57, with warnings that the number could increase sharply if the blockade persists.

Palestinian government officials and UN agencies have repeatedly urged Israel to reopen the crossings and allow essential supplies to reach the besieged enclave. The Gaza Strip, home to more than two million people, has been subjected to a near-total siege and daily bombardment since October 7, 2023, when Israel launched its latest military campaign.

The situation has further escalated following reports from Hebrew media outlet Walla, which revealed that Israel’s security cabinet recently approved a new plan to route humanitarian aid through an international fund and private companies—bypassing the United Nations and traditional humanitarian agencies. The move has drawn sharp criticism from both Palestinian authorities and international relief organizations.

In a joint statement, the International Humanitarian Country Team in the occupied Palestinian territory denounced the plan as a violation of humanitarian principles. “This mechanism contravenes international humanitarian principles, is dangerous, pushes civilians into military zones to obtain rations, threatens lives, and further entrenches forced displacement,” the group said.

The Humanitarian Country Team, which includes UN agencies and both Palestinian and international NGOs, operates under the UN Humanitarian Coordinator and has been at the forefront of aid efforts in Gaza. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher have both stated that the UN will not participate in any mechanism that undermines the principles of humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality.

Since the beginning of Israel’s military operation on Gaza, at least 52,567 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed, and 118,610 have been injured, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. As starvation spreads and humanitarian access remains blocked, international agencies warn that Gaza faces imminent famine and mass civilian death without urgent intervention. (ILKHA)