Gaza – More than 750,000 people received food aid, and the need is still greater than the response

In addition, humanitarian partners prepared more than 700,000 meals daily through about 100 community kitchens, distributed in more than 1,100 locations, including hospitals.

Food security partners have warned of shortages of refrigeration equipment, reducing residents’ access to fresh food. They stressed the urgent need to agree to bring in the necessary equipment, especially with the rising temperatures.

Regarding shelter, partners reported that last week they provided tents, tarpaulins, bedding sets and clothes to about 4,000 families. They also repaired or improved about 850 temporary shelters, and completed the repair of more than 450 damaged homes.

However, partners have warned that stocks are running low due to disruptions in supply chains and lack of funding.

Malnutrition among children

In the field of nutrition, detection and treatment operations continue. In the first half of June, partners examined more than 31,000 children, and it was found that about 1,500 of them were suffering from acute malnutrition, including more than 200 severe cases, and all of them were included in treatment programs. Nearly 24,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women were examined, and treatment is being provided to those infected.

Despite these efforts, the United Nations has confirmed that the humanitarian response in Gaza is still far below the scale of needs, and there is a need to make more efforts to enable humanitarian operations and provide the necessary funding for them.

Disease control campaigns

In a related context, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that it continues to implement cleaning campaigns, community awareness activities, and pesticide spraying in the Gaza Strip, in addition to solid waste disposal and other efforts aimed at improving environmental conditions.

The agency stated that, since June 7, it has implemented measures to limit the spread of animals and disease-carrying pests in more than 370 displacement sites across Gaza, collectively housing more than 680,000 people.

Strong support for UNRWA

On the other hand, the Acting Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Christian Saunders, welcomed the strong political support expressed by member states during the pledging conference held on Tuesday in New York, emphasizing the importance of the vital role played by UNRWA in providing humanitarian assistance and basic public services to millions of Palestine refugees.

During the conference, new funding pledges worth $4 million were announced, mostly for emergency appeals.

While expressing deep gratitude for all the contributions made in support of Palestine refugees, Mr. Christian Saunders said that the amounts pledged are, unfortunately, not sufficient to significantly reduce the cash flow deficit for 2026, amounting to $100 million.

He expressed his hope that, in the coming months, Member States would translate this political support into funding commensurate with the level of support they have shown for the work of the Agency, enabling it to continue fulfilling the mandate entrusted to it by the United Nations General Assembly of protecting Palestine refugees and providing assistance to them.