OCHA: As first supplies in 11 weeks enter Gaza, UN Relief Chief says ‘much, much more’ must cross

20 May 2025

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said the first trucks of vital baby food are now inside Gaza after 11 weeks of total blockade.

“We need to get them distributed urgently, and we need much, much more to cross,” he stressed in a social media post today.

OCHA reports that today, the UN was sending flour, medicines, nutrition supplies and other basics through the Israeli fence into the Palestinian side of Kerem Shalom. Yesterday, the UN managed to get in baby formula and other nutrition supplies.

OCHA notes that the Israeli authorities are requiring the UN to offload supplies on the Palestinian side of Kerem Shalom crossing and reload them separately once they secure UN teams’ access from inside. Only then is the UN able to bring any supplies closer to where people in need are sheltering. Today, the UN team waited several hours for the Israeli green light to access Kerem Shalom and collect the nutrition supplies.

While the entry of supplies is a positive development on the ground, as Fletcher noted yesterday, this is a drop in the ocean of what is required to address the massive scale of humanitarian needs in Gaza. The deprivation being witnessed across the Strip is the result of ongoing bombardments and blockade, as well as recurrent displacement.

Families are starving, people are living with deep trauma, and there is nowhere safe to go while Israeli attacks hit civilians and essential civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, and as more displacement orders are issued.

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the Indonesian Hospital was attacked yesterday, damaging electrical generators and forcing the facility to suspend services. As of yesterday, there were 55 people in the hospital, including patients and medical staff, with critical shortages of food and water.

Also yesterday, an Israeli air strike reportedly hit a school in An Nuseirat, killing seven people and injuring others. According to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), two of the agency’s staff who worked as teachers were killed in this attack. This comes as the death toll for UNRWA staff killed during the war has surpassed the gruesome milestone of 300.

Today, the Israeli military issued another displacement order, affecting 26 neighbourhoods in northern Gaza, specifically in Beit Lahiya, Jabalya and its camp. The affected area spans about 35 square kilometres and represents 10 per cent of the Gaza Strip. Humanitarian partners estimate that as of midday today, more than 41,000 people were displaced, including due to hostilities targeting displacement sites and displacement orders.

Partners report that the order affects 113 displacement sites, more than half of which were impacted by previous displacement orders. Among the facilities affected are three hospitals, three healthcare centers and four medical points, which are located within the displacement area. Another two hospitals, four healthcare centres and six medical points are within 1,000 metres of the displacement area.

Partners working in education also report that three temporary learning spaces, where about 500 children are supported with education and recreational activities by 12 teachers, have been affected by today’s displacement order.

According to partners’ estimates, since 15 May, more than 57,000 people have been displaced in southern Gaza – and more than 81,000 people have been displaced in northern Gaza – due to intensified hostilities and recurrent displacement orders.

Humanitarian partners estimate that 80 per cent of the Gaza Strip is now either subject to displacement orders or located in Israeli-militarized zones.

Once again, OCHA stresses that civilians must be protected whether they move or stay. Civilians who flee must be allowed to return as soon as circumstances allow. OCHA reiterates that civilians must be able to receive the humanitarian assistance they need, wherever they are. All of this is required by international humanitarian law.

Meanwhile, partners providing water and sanitation services report that their operations continue to be severely disrupted across the Strip due to ongoing fuel shortages. In the northern part of Gaza, no fuel is currently available, and only half of the required weekly supply was received last week. As a result, fuel reserves are nearly depleted. Operating hours for water wells have been further reduced, and complete shutdowns are imminent.

In southern Gaza, water utilities have not received any fuel, although 140,000 litres per week are needed to maintain operations. Water, sanitation and hygiene facilities have already reduced their operating hours by more than 20 per cent.

Daily attempts to retrieve fuel from reserves located in areas where humanitarians are required to coordinate with the Israeli authorities, such as Rafah, continue to be denied. This includes two such attempts today. Partners warn that without immediate fuel deliveries, a full shutdown of water and sanitation facilities is possible by the end of the week.

Food and security partners report that yesterday, at least nine kitchens in Khan Younis, Gaza city and North Gaza were temporarily closed or slated for relocation due to recent displacement orders and ongoing hostilities in these areas since 15 May.

Despite the tremendous challenges on the ground, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to do whatever they can to respond to people’s most urgent needs and provide critical and life-saving services.

Partners working in health report that despite access constraints due to the ongoing military operation in Jabalya – which is hampering people’s ability to obtain healthcare – both Kamal Adwan and Al Awda hospitals remain operational and continue to provide essential sexual and reproductive health services.

Meanwhile, expansion activities are underway in the Al Shifa medical complex in Gaza city. Partners working in health report that new operating spaces are expected to open in the maternity building in the coming weeks. A field hospital is also expected to be established within Al Shifa hospital.

Partners working on food security report that as of yesterday, about 282,000 daily meals were prepared and delivered by 16 partners through about 70 kitchens.

OCHA reiterates that the UN and its partners have a clear and principled plan to deliver immediately and on a scale commensurate with the vast needs in Gaza. Their job is saving lives, and it is critical that they are allowed to carry out that work.