The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) states that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached an unprecedented point.

The UN Agency for Palestine Refugees, which is by far the largest humanitarian provider in Gaza, warned that the agency would be forced to halt all operations unless fuel is allowed into Gaza immediately.

Hospitals are shutting down due to a lack of fuel, water, medical supplies, and personnel.

Fuel is being severely rationed for a select number of critical facilities.

The backup generators are not designed for continuous operation and could break, as stated by OCHA.

UN personnel visited some hospitals and noticed that in one hospital, there were hundreds of wounded men, women, and children. Many of them were unconscious, with open wounds, lying on beds, stretchers, and on the floor with limited medical attendance.

In the yard, there was a tent with tens of dead bodies, including children. Many of the dead are kept there because the morgues are full, according to OCHA.

Food stocks are running out, and the World Food Programme estimates that current supplies of essential food in Gaza are sufficient for about 12 days. However, at shops, the available stock is expected to last for only five days, as reported by OCHA.

People are resorting to drinking well water, which is extremely high in salt and poses immediate health risks.

Health partners have also detected cases of chickenpox, scabies, and diarrhoea due to poor sanitation conditions and consumption of water from unsafe sources, OCHA said.

The number of internally displaced people is now estimated at more than 1.4 million, including nearly 590,000 people sheltering in UN-designated shelters. More than 15 per cent of the displaced are estimated to have disabilities, yet most shelters are not adequately equipped for their needs, according to OCHA.

Local authorities report that more than 40 per cent of all housing units in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged, OCHA said.

(Xinhua/NAN)