UN Urges Daily Entry of Hundreds of Humanitarian and Commercial Trucks into Gaza Due to Food Crisis
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is in a critical state, with starvation and malnutrition among children reaching catastrophic levels. According to UNICEF, the number of children dying of starvation is surging, a troubling development that has gone unabated since March 2025.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has confirmed the rapid spread of severe acute malnutrition among children in Gaza. This alarming trend is compounded by the limited quantity of fuel that has entered the region in recent weeks, a situation that the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has deemed insufficient to address the pressing needs.
The shortage of supplies in Gaza is not merely confined to food. The operation of relief trucks, essential for the delivery of aid, relies heavily on fuel. At least 600 trucks are needed daily to meet the basic humanitarian needs of over two million people in the Gaza Strip, according to UNRWA. However, UN trucks face restrictions that hamper their aid delivery efforts.
The humanitarian needs inside Gaza are immense and require the entry of hundreds of trucks for months and possibly years. The United Nations has stated that Gaza is on the brink of famine, a sobering reality that underscores the urgency of the situation.
The ongoing hostilities, deliberate or de facto restrictions on movement and aid, and intensified civilian targeting have led to at least 1,655 Palestinian fatalities and more than 11,800 injuries since late May 2025. These casualties often occur while Palestinians are trying to access food supplies, often near or along humanitarian food distribution routes, despite announcements of temporary ceasefires.
Israel has declared a daily tactical pause in fighting to facilitate the passage of humanitarian convoys. However, humanitarian pauses and limited airdrops are deemed insufficient to meet the scale of needs, and attacks on aid infrastructure, such as the Palestine Red Crescent Society, have been reported. Humanitarian aid deliveries are heavily restricted and often interrupted, with international and UN agencies describing Israeli-imposed blocks and displacement orders that target humanitarian operations as part of a campaign causing widespread decimation and physical destruction in Gaza.
UN officials and human rights experts have warned of conditions approaching physical destruction of the population, with implications under international law regarding the conduct of the conflict. The UN and independent experts have called for unrestricted and uninterrupted humanitarian aid access to Gaza.
In a bid to address the deprivation and nutrition situation affecting children, mothers, and the elderly, UNICEF is urging numerous governments to increase pressures on all parties involved to find a lasting solution to the crisis. Malnourished children are ten times more susceptible to contracting pneumonia, measles, or other fatal diseases, making the situation even more dire.
A stark reminder of the reality on the ground is the image of a Palestinian woman searching the sand for legumes or rice in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip. The photograph, taken by Eyad Baba / AFP, shows the desperation faced by many Gazans as they struggle to find food to survive.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with no end in sight. The international community must act urgently to alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza and prevent a full-blown famine.
[1] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), "Occupied Palestinian Territory: Humanitarian Bulletin - Issue No. 16, 1-15 August 2025" [2] United Nations Human Rights Council, "Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel" (A/HRC/50/68), 2025 [3] United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), "Statement on the Situation of Children in Gaza" (2025) [4] Amnesty International, "Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories: Attacks on health facilities in Gaza must stop" (2025) [5] Middle East Eye, "Gaza's health system on brink of collapse amid Israeli bombardment" (2025)
- The dire humanitarian condition in Gaza, as confirmed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), extends beyond nutrition, affecting several aspects of life, including mental health, health-and-wellness, and fitness-and-exercise, due to limited access to essential facilities.
- The situation has also impacted the political landscape, with numerous governments urged by UNICEF to increase pressures on all parties involved to find a lasting solution to the crisis, indicating the involvement of politics in this humanitarian disaster.
- The general-news outlets, like Middle East Eye, have reported that the ongoing violence and restrictions have led to a potential collapse of Gaza's health system, further highlighting the urgent need for action.
- Crime-and-justice is another area affected, with attacks on aid infrastructure and humanitarian operations being reported, which Amnesty International has strongly condemned. These actions not only hinders the delivery of aid but also contribute to the widespread destruction in Gaza, violating international law.
