The United Nations has issued a strong warning about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where aid supplies are nearly exhausted and public health conditions are becoming increasingly dangerous.
The alert comes as border closures continue to block the entry of vital goods, including food and medicine.
At a news briefing on Friday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that sanitation in many parts of Gaza has deteriorated significantly. He reported that three displacement camps in Al-Mawasi are now dealing with widespread infestations of fleas and mites, which are leading to skin rashes and other health problems. The delivery of basic treatment supplies remains impossible as long as border crossings stay closed.
The World Food Program has also sounded the alarm, warning that food stocks are nearly gone and that many of their aid efforts in the region are winding down. With no fresh supplies arriving, families across Gaza are left struggling to find enough to eat.
Dujarric pointed to a growing sense of hopelessness among civilians. He described recent looting incidents as evidence of the desperation gripping the population. With no way in or out and dwindling resources, many people feel they have no other option.
Beyond Gaza, the crisis is spilling into the occupied West Bank, where ongoing Israeli military operations have forced tens of thousands from their homes, especially in the Jenin and Tulkarem areas. The UN and its partners are trying to provide emergency support, including shelter and mental health care, to those affected by the violence.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to intensify attacks on Gaza, even as the U.S. government pursues a plan reportedly aimed at relocating Palestinians from the enclave. Since the conflict escalated in October 2023, over 50,600 Palestinians have died—many of them women and children—according to local health authorities.
The situation has drawn international legal scrutiny. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last November, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel is also being tried at the International Court of Justice in a genocide case related to the war in Gaza.
As the blockade continues and humanitarian agencies warn of collapse, the people of Gaza are left facing growing threats with limited help in sight.