Gaza Crisis: Humanitarians Appeal for Full Aid Access Amid Winter Storms
February 10, 2025
Gaza City, Gaza Strip – As the winter storms batter the Gaza Strip, humanitarian organizations are issuing urgent appeals for full aid access to the beleaguered coastal territory.
The storms have brought heavy rain, flooding, and snowfall to Gaza, exacerbating the already precarious living conditions for its 2.3 million residents. Thousands of homes have been damaged, leaving hundreds of families homeless.
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, and the winter storms have made it even worse,” said Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “We are calling for immediate, unimpeded access to the territory so that we can deliver life-saving assistance to those who need it.”
The Gaza Strip has been under Israeli blockade for over 15 years. The blockade has severely restricted the flow of goods and people into and out of the territory, limiting access to food, medicine, and other essential supplies.
During the winter storms, the blockade has prevented the delivery of fuel to Gaza, leading to power cuts and shortages of drinking water. Hospitals and health facilities are struggling to operate, and many patients are unable to access the medical care they need.
Humanitarian organizations have long called for the blockade to be lifted. They argue that it is a collective punishment of the Palestinian population and violates international law.
“The blockade is a clear violation of human rights,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, the Middle East and North Africa director for Human Rights Watch. “It is a crime that has caused immense suffering and deprivation for the people of Gaza.”
The Israeli government has justified the blockade as a security measure to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. However, human rights groups have argued that the blockade is not effective in preventing weapons smuggling and that it is causing more harm than good.
In recent years, the United Nations and the international community have repeatedly called for the blockade to be lifted. In 2020, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2523, which called for “immediate and unconditional” access for humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
However, the Israeli government has refused to fully implement the resolution. It has allowed some humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, but it has continued to restrict the import of essential supplies such as fuel and construction materials.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deepening, and the winter storms have made it even more urgent. Humanitarians are calling for immediate, unimpeded access to the territory so that they can deliver life-saving assistance to those who need it.
Gaza crisis: Amid winter storms, humanitarians appeal for full aid access
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