The United Nations has raised urgent concerns over escalating civilian casualties in Gaza, particularly near militarized aid distribution points, as hostilities intensify across the region. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), attacks on crowds gathering for food aid in Rafah and Deir al-Balah have resulted in scores of deaths and injuries, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the violence, calling Sunday's incidents—which Gaza health authorities say killed 31 people and injured dozens near an aid site in Rafah—"unacceptable." Israel has denied involvement. Guterres demanded an independent investigation and accountability for perpetrators, stressing Israel's obligation under international law to facilitate humanitarian aid access.
OCHA reports that over 640,000 people, nearly a third of Gaza's population, have been displaced since a March ceasefire collapsed. Recent displacement orders in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah have forced 100,000 residents to flee, shuttering schools and disrupting education for 8,000 students. Healthcare systems are also collapsing, with dialysis centers struck and over 40% of patients dying since October due to unreachable facilities.
Humanitarian efforts face severe challenges: looting of aid trucks is rising, and dwindling supplies hinder malnutrition treatment. Last week, nutritional supplements reached 40,000 children, but OCHA warns that Gaza's needs far outpace current capacity. "People are risking their lives for food," Guterres said, urging immediate, unimpeded aid access to prevent further catastrophe.
