Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023–present)
Man-made humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gaza Strip is experiencing a humanitarian crisis as a result of the Israel–Hamas war.[1][2] The crisis includes both a famine and a healthcare collapse. At the start of the war, Israel tightened its blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in significant shortages of fuel, food, medication, water, and essential medical supplies.[1][3] This siege resulted in a 90% drop in electricity availability, impacting hospital power supplies, sewage plants, and shutting down the desalination plants that provide drinking water.[4] Widespread disease outbreaks have spread across Gaza.[2]
Heavy bombardment by Israeli airstrikes caused catastrophic damage to Gaza’s infrastructure, further deepening the crisis.[5] The Gaza Health Ministry reported over 4,000 children killed in the war's first month.[6] UN Secretary General António Guterres stated Gaza had "become a graveyard for children."[lower-alpha 1][9][10] In May 2024, the USAID head Samantha Power stated that conditions in Gaza were "worse than ever before".[11]
Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, and a joint statement by UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the UN Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund, and World Food Programme have warned of a dire humanitarian collapse.[12][13][14] In November 2023, UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk described the Rafah Crossing as "gates to a living nightmare."[15]