UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations (UN) and its humanitarian partners are intensifying their efforts to address the mounting crises in Gaza and Lebanon, where both regions are grappling with extreme challenges, including access restrictions, food shortages, and urgent reconstruction needs.
During a press briefing on December 9, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric provided an update on the ongoing humanitarian response.
In Gaza, limited fuel deliveries on December 6 and 8 allowed four bakeries in Gaza City to resume operations, enabling bread distributions to shelters and community kitchens.
However, many other areas continue to suffer, with seven bakeries in North Gaza and Rafah governorates remaining closed due to ongoing hostilities. Additionally, bakeries in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis have shut down due to flour shortages and safety concerns.
UN and local humanitarian organisations are focusing their efforts on flour distribution to southern and central Gaza, with 25-kilogram bags being distributed to families.
However, the limited supply is exacerbated by skyrocketing flour prices. As of December 1, the price of a 25-kilogram bag reached $280 in Deir al Balah and $245 in Khan Younis, further straining already vulnerable populations.
Health conditions in Gaza are also worsening, with access challenges hindering malnutrition screenings. Only 151,000 out of the 346,000 children under five in Gaza were screened for malnutrition in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Despite logistical challenges, the UN and its partners distributed supplementary food to 146,000 children across several Gaza governorates in November.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the UN continues to support the government’s humanitarian response, focusing on providing essential food and water supplies to southern Lebanon and Nabatieh governorates.
On December 9, vital aid was delivered to these areas to address the ongoing needs of displaced populations.
Imran Riza, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, recently visited Dahieh, a southern Beirut suburb, to assess the situation and engage with local leaders about recovery and reconstruction efforts.
The UN is working closely with municipal leaders to coordinate rehabilitation and reconstruction plans, which are crucial in the wake of the ongoing regional instability.
In a related development, the UN Security Council held a closed-door meeting on December 9 to discuss the situation in Gaza. Sigrid Kaag, the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator, briefed the council on the need for political will to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
Kaag emphasised that the responsibility for facilitating aid rests with member states and the parties involved in the conflict.
Two draft resolutions are set for a vote in the coming days.
One calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, following the failure of a similar resolution due to a US veto.
The other urges Israel to uphold the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and allow the agency to continue providing “safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance.”
This resolution follows Israel’s decision to ban UNRWA activities, set to take effect on January 28, which has drawn widespread international condemnation, including from the US, Israel’s key ally.
The ongoing violence in the region is part of a broader pattern of military action by Israel, including its deadly war on Gaza, which has claimed over 44,700 lives since October last year, mostly women and children.
Lebanese health authorities have also report edthat since October 2023, Israeli airstrikes and attacks on Lebanon have resulted in over 4,000 deaths and more than 16,500 injuries. Additionally, more than one million people have been displaced due to the ongoing violence.
In a significant move last month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Furthermore, Israel is now facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza, with an Amnesty International investigation also concluding that Israel’s military actions amount to genocide against Palestinians in the region.
