Gazans surviving on two pieces of bread, cries for water in streets: UN Official

The Gaza director for the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees said the situation in Gaza is increasingly dire. He mentioned that many Palestinians in Gaza are surviving on two pieces of Arabic bread made from United Nations stockpiled flour. However, the prevailing cry in the streets is for water.

White, who recently travelled throughout Gaza, described the region as a “scene of death and destruction.” He expressed concerns about the safety of the people and their ability to feed their families, as no place seems safe.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is supporting approximately 89 bakeries across Gaza, aiming to provide bread to 1.7 million people. Despite these efforts, White pointed out that people are now more concerned about finding water than bread.

Lynn Hastings, the UN Deputy Mideast Coordinator and humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories noted that only one of the three water supply lines from Israel is operational. Many people are forced to rely on brackish or saline groundwater, or they have no access to clean water at all.

In the same briefing, UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths reported that negotiations are ongoing among authorities from Israel, Egypt, the United States, and the United Nations regarding the entry of fuel into Gaza. Fuel is essential for institutions, hospitals, and the distribution of water and electricity, and it is crucial to ensure its reliable supply to Gaza.

As fuel supplies run out, backup generators, which are vital for maintaining the operation of hospitals, water desalination plants, and food production facilities, are grinding to a halt. Additionally, sewage is not being treated and is being pumped into the sea. When fuel supplies run out for municipal workers, sewage may flow into the streets.

Furthermore, cooking gas, previously supplied to Gaza from Egypt by the private sector, is becoming increasingly scarce. Aid organizations like UNRWA cannot replicate the private sector’s distribution network for this essential item.

White highlighted the plight of nearly 600,000 people taking shelter in 149 UNRWA facilities, mainly schools. These facilities are overcrowded, and many lack the resources to maintain proper sanitation, resulting in dire conditions with women and children sleeping in classrooms and men sleeping outdoors.

He also expressed concerns about the safety of those seeking shelter in UNRWA facilities. Over 50 UNRWA facilities have been impacted by the conflict, including five direct hits, resulting in 38 deaths in their shelters. White feared that this number might increase due to the ongoing fighting in the north of Gaza.

Griffiths, the humanitarian chief, revealed that 72 UNRWA staff members have lost their lives since 7 October, making it one of the highest numbers of UN staff casualties in a conflict.

The Gaza Health Ministry has reported more than 9,000 people killed in Gaza, marking a significant increase compared to the 2014 conflict. Griffiths emphasized that the true toll will only become apparent once debris is cleared.

Griffiths called for humanitarian pauses to deliver aid to millions of people and urged the immediate release of hostages and the protection of all civilians, per international humanitarian law.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has consistently called for a full ceasefire. However, there are ongoing discussions about humanitarian pauses, with some, like the Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour, emphasizing that a full ceasefire is essential to save lives. Mansour expressed concerns about the destruction in Gaza and the urgent need to address the situation.