OCHA: Civilians in Gaza running out of aid, space for survival

11 April 2025

OCHA reports that daily displacement orders – combined with intense bombardment and a complete closure on cargo entry – are steadily eroding what little space remains for civilians to survive in Gaza.

Earlier today, Israeli authorities issued two new displacement orders covering vast areas in northern and southern Gaza. Together, these areas span more than 24 square kilometres.

Several medical facilities and storage sites containing critical supplies are located within the newly designated displacement zones. OCHA warns that this could have life-threatening consequences for people in urgent need of care.

With this latest development, OCHA reports that more than two thirds of the Gaza Strip is either under active displacement orders or designated as “no-go” zones – areas where humanitarian teams are required to coordinate their movements with Israeli authorities. The remaining space left for Palestinians is fragmented, unsafe and barely livable following 18 months of hostilities, which are ongoing. Overcrowded shelters are in terrible condition, service providers are struggling to operate, and resources are being depleted.

OCHA notes that today marks 40 days since Israeli authorities imposed a full closure on the entry of cargo into Gaza. Since then, no one – including the UN and its humanitarian partners – has been permitted to bring in supplies, regardless of how critically needed those items may be.

Everything is running extremely low: Bakeries have shut down, life-saving medicines have run out, and water production has been drastically reduced.

Israel, as the occupying power, has clear obligations under international law, and these include ensuring food, medical care and public health services are available.

Meanwhile, attacks across Gaza continue unabated. In recent days, OCHA has received reports that several humanitarian assets and their immediate surroundings have been hit. These include a clinic, a water tanker and tents sheltering displaced families. Windows of a UN guesthouse were also damaged.

At the same time, the Israeli authorities continue to deny the UN’s efforts to coordinate humanitarian movements. Yesterday and today, six out of 10 such attempts were blocked outright. The few movements that were facilitated involved only staff – not the delivery of aid.

Meanwhile in the West Bank, OCHA’s latest reporting points to ongoing violence, destruction and displacement in many areas.

In just two weeks – the last week of March and the first week of April – Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians, including two children, and injured at least 130 others.

At least three of the fatal incidents involved shooting at children or adults who were reportedly throwing or wielding stones or, in one case, attempting to enter East Jerusalem without a permit. Another deadly incident involved an exchange of fire.

During the same two weeks, OCHA documented the demolition of more than 100 structures across the West Bank for lacking Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible to obtain. This led to the displacement of more than 120 Palestinians, mostly children – and otherwise affected over 200 people.

OCHA reports that more than 30 of those losing their homes had already been displaced in early February following settler violence where they lived, in the Ein al Hilwa area of the Jordan Valley.

In this context, OCHA says nearly half of more than 40 settler attacks resulting in damage or casualties during that two-week period affected Bedouin and herding communities, who are among the most vulnerable across the West Bank.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Palestinians remain displaced and unable to return to their homes in northern parts of the West Bank, where Israeli force continue their operations.

The UN and its partners are responding to the deepening needs of people in affected areas, including by providing water, food, hygiene kits and other essential items to displaced families.