Gaza, MINA – The Gaza Strip is entering 2026 under catastrophic humanitarian conditions, with over two million Palestinians suffering the devastating aftermath of more than two years of war, according to Adnan Abu Hasna, media adviser for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
He warned that the agency’s operations are being severely hampered by Israeli restrictions and a blockade on humanitarian aid.
In an interview with Al-Quds Al-Arabi, Abu Hasna stated that thousands of aid trucks carrying enough food and flour for the entire population, plus hundreds of thousands of tents, blankets, and plastic sheets for roughly 1.3 million people remain stuck at crossings due to Israeli obstruction.
He added that Israel continues to hinder UN operations by denying entry to international staff, including blocking Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini from accessing Gaza and the West Bank.
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UNRWA is also confronting a severe financial crisis, needing about $200 million by the end of March 2026 to pay staff salaries. This shortfall threatens services not only in Gaza but also for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
Despite the challenges, UNRWA has resumed education for 300,000 students, opened new clinics serving thousands daily, and continues waste collection and water distribution. However, the situation remains dire, with essential survival items stranded at borders.
Abu Hasna noted that 151 countries recently reaffirmed support for UNRWA’s mandate, and the International Court of Justice rejected Israel’s claims against the agency, calling on Israel to facilitate its work. In the West Bank, UNRWA faces further obstacles from Israeli military operations that have displaced over 30,000 Palestinians, and it remains barred from operating in Jerusalem.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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