UN warns Gaza humanitarian access constrained after hospital out of service and WFP convoy fired on

Steph, UN spokesperson, told reporters on Jan. 8 that the World Health Organization has reported Kamal Adwan Hospital in north Gaza is “completely out of service” and that WHO has received no updates on the safety of the hospital’s director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, since his detention on Dec. 27. "WHO continues to call for his release and for a stop to attacks on hospitals and health professionals in Gaza," Steph said.

Steph said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported daily denials and impediments to UN attempts to reach besieged parts of north Gaza. Over three recent attempts to enter those areas — one each on Saturday, Sunday and Monday — all were denied, Steph said. Across the Gaza Strip over the weekend, 37 UN-led humanitarian missions were planned; 12 were facilitated, 15 were denied outright, nine were impeded and one was canceled, she said.

The UN brief noted civilian deaths tied to cold: OCHA reported a 1-month-old baby had died of hypothermia and that the death was the eighth child linked to cold in less than three weeks. "These deaths were preventable had the items required to protect these children been accessible to their families," Steph said.

Steph also described widespread looting and attacks on humanitarian convoys. She relayed that four incidents of armed looting were reported in the south over the weekend, including an episode in which 43 of 74 trucks were looted on the Ar Rashid Coastal Road in the Al Mawasi area west of Rafah. Yesterday, eight fuel trucks were seized; two have since been recovered. That leaves approximately 50,000 liters of fuel available to power central services — "less than what is needed usually for two days," Steph said.

In a separate update relayed by Steph from a World Food Programme press release, a clearly marked WFP convoy of three vehicles carrying eight staff was shot at by Israeli forces near the Wadi Gaza (Wadi Grama) checkpoint despite having received the necessary clearances. At least 16 bullets struck one of the vehicles; no staff were reported injured. "The World Food Programme and we urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and allow safe passage of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza," Steph said.

Steph said OCHA continues to stress that civilians and civilian infrastructure — including humanitarian workers, convoys and assets — must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law. She also urged that Israeli authorities facilitate the flow of aid, fuel and commercial goods into and within Gaza “swiftly and at scale” and that the civilian police be allowed to resume operations to help restore order.

The spokesperson characterized the operational environment as volatile and constrained by active hostilities and access denials. She said humanitarian partners continue to document deaths, injuries and large displacement and are prioritizing life-saving assistance where access permits.