The remaining three – including a mission to reach a water treatment plant in Khan Younis – were rejected by Israel.
Saving lives, beating famine
The successful missions collected food and medical supplies from the border crossing between Kerem Shalom and Karem Abu Salem. Teams also monitored humanitarian cargo at Kissufim and Kerem Shalom loading ramps.
Speaking in New York, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric noted that four months have passed since the Gaza ceasefire took effect, and that humanitarian scale-up has saved countless lives and reduced famine.
Yet many people continue to live “in extremely harsh conditions, and the humanitarian response continues to face significant obstacles, especially in terms of access to goods and the ability of humanitarian partners to operate,” he added.
Sustainable housing solutions needed
Nearly 1.5 million people – or two out of three Palestinians in Gaza – live in a thousand IDP locations across the Gaza Strip and in tents.
Hundreds of families have also found shelter in damaged buildings, which are at risk of collapse.
Humanitarian workers continue to provide the population with tents, tarpaulins, mattresses, clothing and other supplies, reaching more than 85,000 families in January alone.
“But these items provide limited protection and their lifespan is short,” Mr. Dujarric said.
“To provide more sustainable solutions, restrictions on access to essential construction materials and equipment must be lifted.”
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