Gaza: hunger, healthcare collapse and unrelenting war bring indescribable hardships for civilians – OCHA

08 August 2025

OCHA reports that civilians continue to be killed and injured and are facing mounting challenges amid ongoing hostilities, displacement and further destruction.

As strikes continue across Gaza, people report that even the most basic daily tasks – such as finding water or food – have become impossible.

The devastating convergence of a hunger crisis, a collapsing healthcare system, widespread destruction of critical infrastructure and nearly two years of war is having a catastrophic toll on people, particularly on the most vulnerable.

Aid entering into Gaza remains far below the minimum required to meet people’s immense needs. The UN and its humanitarian partners continue to do everything possible to bring assistance inside Gaza.

However, missions continue to face significant delays and other impediments that prevent the UN from delivering aid at scale. Yesterday, another mission to pick up supplies took 18 hours to complete.

Since the entry of some commercial trucks into Gaza in the past few days, partners reported a minor reduction in commodities prices as of yesterday. Most food items remain scarce in the market and sold at exorbitant prices.

Airdrops landing in different parts of Gaza continue to reportedly kill and injure people, including at least one child that was reportedly killed yesterday in Khan Younis.

OCHA welcomes all efforts to provide aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it, but reiterates that the most efficient way to bring in supplies is by road. It is imperative that aid is allowed to enter through all crossings and via all available corridors so that the UN and its partners can deliver it at scale in a safe and dignified manner through their community-based mechanisms, reaching the most vulnerable.

Meanwhile, a severe heatwave is sweeping the region as people continue to struggle with access to water. In the southern part of the Strip, partners working on water, sanitation and hygiene reported that yesterday, the South Gaza Desalination Plant’s electricity line was damaged for the third time in the past seven days. As a result, the plant is currently operating at less than 14 per cent of its capacity.

OCHA continues to stress the urgency of a permanent ceasefire, to provide adequate assistance and aid to the desperate population in Gaza and to call for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages.