Monitoring Desk
GAZA/ISLAMABAD: The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached alarming levels as Israel’s blockade enters its 15th day, leaving over a million children struggling to survive without food, clean water, and medical supplies, United Nations agencies warn.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has issued an urgent plea for immediate aid access, emphasizing that parents are unable to feed their children, and hospitals are once again running out of life-saving supplies.
“We’ve run out of food, water, diapers for kids, and basic hygiene products,” said a distressed mother, Reem. “What little we have left will barely last two or three days. What happens to us after that?”
Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is facing mounting pressure, with its chief, Philippe Lazzarini, stating that relentless efforts to discredit and dismantle the agency have intensified since the conflict escalated.
Adding to the crisis, the World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that no food has entered Gaza since March 2, as all border crossings remain closed for both humanitarian and commercial supplies. The blockade has caused food prices to skyrocket, with some staple items seeing a 200% price hike, making them unaffordable for most families.
Al Jazeera reports that Israel has also severely restricted access to clean water. The main desalination plant in Gaza, once producing 17 million liters of water daily, has been reduced to just 2 million liters following Israeli power cuts.
Health services are on the verge of collapse. Journalist Hind Khoudary, reporting from a Gaza hospital, warned, “If aid is not allowed in, hospitals will shut down completely.”
Regional Tensions Escalate
In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes have continued despite a supposed ceasefire with Hezbollah. At least four people were killed in Israeli raids on southern Lebanon over the weekend, according to Lebanese state media.
Meanwhile, human rights experts warn that Israeli abuses against Palestinian children—including detentions and psychological torture—will leave deep scars for generations. Psychiatrist Samah Jabr highlighted that experiences of political violence in childhood, such as home raids and detentions, lead to long-term trauma.
Legal Battle Over Pro-Palestinian Protests in the US
In the United States, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attempts to deport international students and scholars who support Palestinian rights. The lawsuit argues that such actions violate the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech and expression.
As conditions in Gaza deteriorate, UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, and rights groups continue to call for immediate intervention to prevent further loss of life.
