OCHA: Intensifying offensive in Gaza city imperils civilians

03 September 2025

OCHA warns that further intensification of the continued offensive on Gaza city, amid ongoing famine, will push civilians – already battered and bereaved – into an even deeper catastrophe that world leaders must act decisively to prevent.

Today, partners supporting displacement sites warned that the escalating hostilities in Gaza city are having horrific humanitarian consequences for people living at these sites, many of whom were previously displaced from North Gaza. They say that many households are unable to move due to high costs and a lack of safe space to move to – with older people and those with disabilities especially affected.

Partners report that between 14 and 31 August, more than 82,000 new displacements have been recorded, including nearly 30,000 movements from north to south.

They describe conditions at displacement sites as deplorable and overcrowded, with debris and waste accumulating near or within living areas. High temperatures have intensified these unsanitary conditions, leading to widespread rodent and insect infestations. As a result, there are mounting health risks, with children developing skin rashes.

Water supplies are inadequate, leading to large crowds around distribution points that make it difficult for the most vulnerable to reach supplies. Delivery trucks are often unable to access displacement sites, forcing families to travel long distances for water.

OCHA reports that inside Gaza, the UN and its partners’ movements also continue to face impediments. Out of 16 missions coordinated with Israeli authorities yesterday, five faced extremely long delays before receiving the green light from the Israeli authorities to move – including efforts to collect supplies from the crossings.

Despite the challenges, teams were able to pick up aid – including medical supplies – as well as fuel from the Kerem Shalom crossing. Two of the impeded missions – which aimed to pick up food assistance from the crossings – were only able to be partially accomplished. Eight other humanitarian movements were facilitated yesterday, while three had to be canceled by the organizers.

Today, OCHA reported on what the UN and its humanitarian partners have been able to deliver, despite the ongoing impediments, during the latter two weeks of last month, between 17 and 30 August:

To address famine and food insecurity, they collected over 6,900 metric tons of wheat flour, food parcels and bulk food supplies – through daily convoys reaching Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings. They delivered 60 metric tons of concentrated fodder to 600 livestock holders, and helped operate 99 community kitchens providing 468,000 daily meals.

To address malnutrition, they dispatched therapeutic formula in quantities sufficient to treat over 3,000 children for about six weeks; enough complementary food to support over 1,400 infants and young children for up to two weeks; and high-energy biscuits sufficient for 4,600 pregnant and breastfeeding women for two weeks. They also collected supplements and other nutrition supplies from the crossings.

To support Gaza’s crippled health system, they provided 10 hemodialysis machines and hospital beds in the south, distributed reproductive health kits and 16,000 packs of diapers, led a blood donation campaign, collected a range of medical items from the crossings, trained medical staff, and supported the evacuation of 82 of the thousands of patients who could not be treated in Gaza.

To mitigate water, hygiene and sanitation concerns, partners trucked 15,300 cubic metres of drinking water every day to over 1,600 collection points across the Strip. They also helped install a new desalination plant and rehabilitate two wells, and distributed hygiene kits to over 6,000 families across more than three dozen displacement sites.

These are just some examples of the important work being done on the ground in Gaza. However, OCHA stresses that overall, what aid workers are able to do is far from enough. A ceasefire is urgently needed, as is the opening of all land routes for larger volumes of essential supplies – including commercial ones. This must include convoys that go directly and unimpeded to the north and to Gaza city, where people desperately need support.