GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned on Thursday that humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip continue to deteriorate amid ongoing restrictions on aid access, stressing that the scale of needs far exceeds what it is currently able to provide.
In a statement posted on its official X account, the UN agency said conditions in Gaza remain extremely severe. It noted that it continues to deliver essential services to displaced populations, including healthcare, education, shelter, food assistance, and protection services, through its network operating across the territory.
UNRWA emphasized that restrictions on humanitarian access are limiting its ability to scale up its response, calling for these constraints to be lifted so it can meet the growing needs of the population.
It added that the continuation of such restrictions, alongside expanding humanitarian needs, is worsening civilian suffering and undermining efforts to ensure even the most basic services.
UNRWA remains the primary UN agency responsible for providing services to millions of Palestinian refugees across its five areas of operation, including Gaza, where a large portion of the population relies on its support.
In Gaza, the agency operates an extensive network of schools, health centers, and aid distribution points, and plays a central role in managing shelters for displaced people during times of conflict, making it a key pillar of the humanitarian response.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza genocide, UNRWA has faced increasing challenges related to humanitarian access and the entry of supplies due to restrictions imposed by Israel on crossings, trucks, and essential materials, including fuel and medical supplies.
The agency said these limitations are hindering its ability to expand operations and respond effectively to growing needs.
UNRWA is also facing ongoing political and funding pressures, which are affecting the sustainability of its services, at a time when UN estimates indicate that the majority of Gaza’s population now depends on humanitarian aid to meet basic needs, amid widespread infrastructure destruction and severe shortages of food, water, and healthcare.
Since March 2025, Israeli authorities have prevented UNRWA aid shipments from entering Gaza, leaving supplies stranded in Egypt and Jordan.
