OCHA: Last lifelines for Gaza city civilians collapsing amid intensified military operations

18 September 2025

OCHA warns that the last remaining lifelines for civilians in Gaza city are collapsing amid intensified military operations there, which are causing more casualties, mass displacement, destruction of facilities essential for people’s survival, and tighter restrictions on humanitarian work.

In just five days, 11 UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) premises serving as emergency shelters for about 11,000 people in Gaza city have been damaged after taking direct or indirect hits.

Partners tracking the movement of people in Gaza report that the number of displacements within the Strip is rising fast, now exceeding 1 million since the ceasefire collapsed in mid-March. Some 200,000 displacements have been recorded from northern to southern Gaza over the past month alone – including 56,000 since Sunday, as of yesterday.

OCHA is alarmed by increasing reports of displaced families sleeping on the streets or in makeshift tents and struggling to survive.

Despite heavy restrictions, the UN and its partners are doing everything possible to reach people across Gaza with life-saving support. OCHA’s latest reporting on the response provides updates on what humanitarians have been able to deliver in the first half of September:

To tackle famine and food insecurity, humanitarian teams collected over 12,500 metric tons of wheat flour, food parcels and bulk supplies from the Israeli-controlled crossings. Every day, they served nearly 560,000 meals through 116 kitchens and provided 10,000 loaves of bread to those moving to the south.

To address malnutrition, the UN and its partners have continued to screen children and enrol them for treatment. UNICEF dispatched over 200,000 packs of nutrient-rich baby food to partners, enough to support over 63,000 infants and young children for two weeks. They also dispatched 10,000 boxes of high-energy biscuits, enough to assist more than 10,000 acutely malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women for one month.

On the health front, teams collected nearly 900 pallets of essential medical supplies from the crossings and are delivering them to health facilities. They also dispatched 120 ICU and emergency beds and four anesthesia machines to Al Aqsa hospital in Deir al Balah; brought in over 500 wheelchairs; distributed contraceptive pills and reproductive health kits; reopened the Japanese Health Centre in Khan Younis; trained local staff; supported surgical, emergency and non-communicable disease services through the deployment of emergency medical teams; and evacuated 30 critical patients abroad.

To mitigate catastrophic water shortages amid ongoing restrictions and hostilities, the UN and its humanitarian partners supported desalination and trucked water across all parts of Gaza.

They also scaled up solid waste collection and the safe disposal of nearly 1,300 cubic metres of trash daily. Meanwhile, they distributed 1,000 hygiene kits, 1,500 cleaning kits, and another 1,500 water storage kits.

To provide some protection support to people, teams assessed explosive hazards risks and conducted over 700 sessions to educate more than 20,000 people on the related risks. They also provided case management for survivors of gender-based violence and 900 at-risk children, as well as legal aid services for over 500 women, psychological first aid for over 200 women and girls, and structured psychosocial support for nearly 600 women and girls.

These are only a few examples, but to be very clear: The aid reaching people falls far short of what they need – and the cost is measured in lives. OCHA warns that opportunities to support starving people are being systematically blocked. Every week, new restrictions are imposed.

For example, Zikim – the only crossing directly into the north, where famine has been confirmed – has been shut since the weekend. Israeli authorities have also classified some food items, such as peanut butter, as “luxuries” not allowed in, leaving large amounts of already-procured aid stuck outside Gaza. On top of this, inspection rules vary by route, creating unpredictability and needless delays.

Inside Gaza, humanitarian movements are also being blocked. Just yesterday, three of 14 coordinated movements were denied – including two intended to bring food to the north. Two other missions faced obstacles that meant they could only be partially completed or prevented them from being carried out at all. This meant wasted time and human resources, missed opportunities to reach people in need, and aid workers being needlessly exposed to risks.

OCHA stresses once again how important it is for the UN and its partners to be able to resume large-scale, community-based humanitarian response. What is needed is a ceasefire, hundreds of trucks a day, safe and open routes, an end to bureaucratic delays, restoration of power and water, and more meaningful commercial imports. Arbitrarily detained Palestinians must be freed. The hostages must be released – immediately and unconditionally.

Related items:

1. OCHA: More families lose homes and shelter as military operations escalate in Gaza city (9 September)
2. UNICEF: the deadly risks for over 450,000 children in Gaza City as military attacks increase (12 September)
3. UNRWA Commissioner-General on Gaza: No place is safe in Gaza, No one is safe (14 September)
4. UNFPA: Attacks on Gaza City are destroying health and protection services for pregnant women and survivors of violence (15 September)
5. OCHA: Civilian suffering deepens as bombardment escalates in Gaza city (15 September)
6. OCHA updates: More people displaced amid deadly escalation in Gaza city (16 September)
7. The UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory condemns the Israeli military’s wanton destruction of Gaza City (16 September)
8. OCHA updates: Thousands of people flee south as Gaza city offensive intensifies (17 September)