❞westasia.news│Adnan Abu Hasna, media adviser for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), said that Gaza is entering 2026 under catastrophic humanitarian conditions affecting over 2 million Palestinians. These hardships stem from more than two years of war and its devastating aftermath. He warned that UNRWA’s operations are facing severe difficulties due to Israeli restrictions and the ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid.
In remarks to Al-Quds Al-Arabi, Abu Hasna explained that thousands of aid trucks loaded with food and blankets, sufficient to support 1.1 million people, have been blocked by Israel. These trucks also contain flour that could meet the needs of the entire population in Gaza.
He added that the aid includes hundreds of thousands of tents, blankets, and plastic sheets intended to assist roughly 1.3 million people, but they remain stuck at crossings due to Israeli restrictions.
UN obstruction and financial crisis
Abu Hasna pointed out that the Israeli authorities continue to obstruct UN operations by denying entry to international staff and even blocking UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini from accessing Gaza and the West Bank, moves that severely hinder humanitarian coordination.
UNRWA is also facing a severe financial shortfall, needing approximately $200 million by the end of March 2026 just to pay staff salaries. This financial crisis extends beyond Gaza to include UNRWA’s operations in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, threatening the agency’s ability to serve millions of Palestinian refugees.
Despite the obstacles, UNRWA has resumed educational services for 300,000 students, 70,000 of whom attend in-person classes. Makeshift learning spaces have been created in destroyed schools and shelters in collaboration with local communities.
Healthcare and sanitation under pressure
On the health front, UNRWA has opened new clinics in northern and central Gaza, providing daily medical care for approximately 16,000 patients. Solid waste collection continues, with thousands of tons of trash removed. UNRWA also distributes clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people and has offered nearly 15 million medical and psychological consultations since October 7, 2023.
Yet, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Hundreds of thousands of tents and clothing items sit stranded at border crossings, urgently needed to meet basic survival needs.
Legal and political challenges
Addressing Israel’s disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting UNRWA, Abu Hasna emphasized that the agency has received renewed backing from 151 countries for the next three years, a clear message of international support.
He also referred to a ruling from the International Court of Justice two months ago, which rejected Israel’s claims that UNRWA had deviated from its mandate. The court called on Israel to facilitate the agency’s operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.
In the West Bank, UNRWA faces additional obstacles due to ongoing Israeli military operations in refugee camps like Tulkarem, Nur Shams, and Jenin, operations that have displaced over 30,000 Palestinians. Severe restrictions continue in Jerusalem, where UNRWA is barred from functioning. │westasia.news - Global Intellectual Property Registry Nº: 1 607138 370884 All rights reserved ©2016|
