New York, April 5 (SANA) The United Nations warned that escalating regional tensions are drawing attention away from the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, where conditions remain severe despite a ceasefire.
Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said the situation in Gaza remains “extremely critical,” noting a decline in international focus even after the ceasefire took effect.
In remarks reported by the Palestinian news agency WAFA on Sunday, Cherevko said around 2.4 million Palestinians are living in Gaza, including about 1.5 million displaced, under what she described as catastrophic conditions.
She said most residents have been displaced from their homes, with many living in camps or among rubble, facing ongoing insecurity and daily threats.
Cherevko said access to essential aid remains restricted, with limited entry of food, medicine and medical supplies, and noted that more than half of the territory is difficult to reach.
She also highlighted the strain on the healthcare system, saying only about 42 percent of medical facilities are operational, many of them partially, due to restrictions on supplies and damage to infrastructure.
Efforts to evacuate patients for treatment remain complicated despite support from the World Health Organization, she added, citing restrictions on the entry of international humanitarian personnel.
Cherevko warned that any further disruption to humanitarian operations would have “devastating consequences” for civilians in Gaza.
The enclave continues to face acute shortages of basic supplies amid ongoing conflict, raising concerns about the long-term humanitarian impact.
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