The chief of the UN’s Office of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Martin Griffiths, expressed grave concern regarding a potential ‘apocalyptic’ scenario in Gaza due to severe fuel shortages and a looming famine resulting from the blockade of humanitarian aid to the region. He emphasized the direness of the situation, stating, “If fuel runs out and aid doesn’t reach those in need, the famine we’ve warned about will no longer be looming — it will be present.”
A few weeks prior, the Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme identified a “full-blown famine” in the northern section of the Gaza Strip. This observation was made even before the current escalation of the situation, which further heightens concerns about the threat of mass starvation.
In early May, the UN reported that Israel’s military offensive in Rafah had severely impacted humanitarian operations throughout the region. While some maritime routes have now been opened, including a maritime humanitarian corridor from Cyprus and an aid pier built by the US military, Griffiths highlighted, “it’s not replacement for land routes.” An OCHA representative cited the importance of land routes, declaring them the “most viable, effective and efficient aid delivery method.”
Following Israel’s military action in Rafah on May 6, almost half of the city’s population – about 640,000 refugees – has been driven from their homes, according to the UN. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized that some refugee towns were attacked and many had already been destroyed. The RAF offensive has been criticized globally, and South Africa has lodged an application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanding Israel’s immediate withdrawal from Rafah.
This situation has emerged in an already fraught region, where tension and conflict have had profound humanitarian implications. The escalation of these issues underscores the urgent need for an effective and peaceful resolution. Further details can be found on the complete report here.