Khaberni - The United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) confirmed that Israel is preventing the entry of vital supplies for providing shelter and heating in the Gaza Strip despite the severe need for them, as local and international officials spoke about the ongoing suffering in key sectors and facilities due to the absence of necessary materials since the ceasefire.
UNRWA said on Saturday that "the need for shelter and warmth in Gaza is increasing as winter approaches, and we have the necessary materials in Jordan and Egypt, but their entry is prevented."
The agency emphasized the need to resume its role in delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli occupation still prevents UNRWA from resuming its work in Gaza despite the decision of the International Court of Justice issued last Wednesday, which confirmed that no organization can replace UNRWA in supporting the residents of Gaza.
Struggling Health Services
On the other hand, Dr. Mohammed Abu Afash, the director of the Medical Relief Association in Gaza City, said that primary health care services are still struggling due to the continuous lack of resources.
Abu Afash added in an interview with Al Jazeera, "We had hoped to introduce what the health sector needs, but the suffering is still ongoing."
He pointed out that mobile clinics and field hospitals are a pressing necessity for the residents of the sector, and he called for clear policies to revive the residents of Gaza - especially children - after two years of the Israeli genocide.
In related news, Andreas Kreivik, the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, in an interview with Al Jazeera, said that Israel has systematically targeted hospitals and health workers in Gaza, and he stressed the need to work on rehabilitating medical facilities in the sector.
Kreivik also called on Israel to take legal responsibility for the entry of aid, emphasizing the necessity of more trucks carrying medical and food supplies and the introduction of heavy machinery to remove debris and clear rubble.
Vital Crossings Closed
Meanwhile, Gaza Municipality appealed to international and humanitarian organizations for urgent action to provide the necessary needs to mitigate the humanitarian disaster in Gaza City, as Israel continues to close the vital crossings towards the north of the sector.
The spokesperson for Gaza Municipality, Asim Al-Nabih, in an interview with Al Jazeera, said, "Everything done so far in the Gaza Strip is just emergency procedures."
Al-Nabih demanded the opening of all crossings, and pointed out that a list of needs has been prepared and plans and details for their introduction to the sector have been agreed upon.
Water Crisis
From another side, UNICEF warned that the water, sanitation, and hygiene sectors are in a critically severe situation in Gaza.
The organization added that the basic needs for families in terms of water, sanitation, and hygiene have not yet been met, noting that half of the families in Gaza receive less than the minimum daily humanitarian water requirement.
UNICEF indicated that over the past two years, the organization and its partners have only managed to prevent the complete collapse of the water and sanitation system.
Currently, a ceasefire is in effect in the Gaza Strip under the agreement signed in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on October 9th, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and with U.S. participation, after two years of Israeli genocide.
Despite the agreement, Israel has not stopped launching air raids and artillery bombing in the Gaza Strip, and it continues to close the Rafah crossing between the Palestinian sector and Egypt, while aid trucks are still waiting on the Egyptian side of the crossing.
