U.N. says Gaza humanitarian situation "the worst" since war began; aid convoys looted, most trucks turned back

The United Nations said Friday that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is "the worst since the war began," with continued strikes, forced evacuations of a partly functioning hospital in North Gaza and sharp increases in displacement and looting.

The U.N. briefing noted that repeated strikes around the facility identified as Al Ooda forced an evacuation of the hospital, and that attacks had continued in and around Dair al-Balah and other areas. "Strikes have continued across Gaza, particularly in North Gaza, where the last remaining partially functioning hospital, Al Ooda, was forced to evacuate last night after repeated strikes on and around the facilities in recent days," the U.N. spokesperson said.

Humanitarian partners reported nearly 200,000 people were displaced in the last two weeks alone, the U.N. said. The briefing said humanitarian needs have "exploded," and that the roughly 80 days of conflict have left assistance levels far short of what the 2,100,000 people in need require.

Logistics have been severely constrained. The U.N. spokesman said five trucks of aid were able to reach the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, while about 60 other trucks had to return because "it was no longer safe to use that road" amid hostilities and armed groups operating near the crossing. "The 5 trucks carried medical supplies, which were meant for the field hospital in Dair al-Balah, and most of the supplies were looted today, very sadly and tragically," the spokesperson said.

The U.N. briefing described looting at a field hospital warehouse in Dair al-Balah where armed individuals allegedly stormed facilities and removed medical equipment, medicines and nutritional supplements intended for malnourished children. Separately, the international aid organization IHH reported that five of its workers were killed and two injured in recent days.

The U.N. and its humanitarian partners reiterated that "all civilians, including humanitarian workers, must be protected at all times." The briefing also repeated a call for lifting the blockade on Gaza to enable unimpeded delivery of assistance and to address "the root causes of widespread deprivation in the Strip."

On the effectiveness of aid delivered in recent weeks, the U.N. spokesperson said the amounts that have entered are, overall, "a drop in the bucket." She added that some aid "even evaporates figuratively before it gets to where it's supposed to be because desperate people see an open truck," and noted restrictions on truck types imposed by Israeli authorities that limit the use of closed vehicles except for vaccines.

The U.N. also said it is not a party to ongoing ceasefire negotiations, while expressing support for the mediators' work; and it noted limited visibility into funding for the Gaza Humanitarian Fund.

The U.N. briefing closed by stressing that humanitarian access and protections for aid workers remain essential as needs continue to grow across the enclave.