OCHA update: Lack of food, fuel and medical supplies compounds hostilities’ impact in Gaza

18 June 2025

OCHA reports that amid ongoing hostilities across the Gaza Strip, attacks have continued, reportedly killing and injuring scores of people and damaging vital infrastructure.

Yesterday in Khan Younis, partners report that medical teams at Nasser Medical Complex had to clear the maternity ward to make space for the injured and turn rooms into emergency operating spaces. Many patients had to undergo life-saving amputations. This followed yesterday’s incident where people waiting for aid were killed or injured.

Partners working on health in Gaza note that every day, scores of patients across the Strip need blood transfusions. As blood stocks are very low, partners are relying on daily collections to meet the increasing demand.

In addition to shortages of medical stocks, partners report that the lack of food supplies for emergency workers is causing many of them to faint, especially when they are called upon to respond to mass casualty incidents.

This week in Khan Younis, in-patient admissions at field hospitals have increased threefold, largely due to access challenges at Nasser Medical Complex, which borders a displacement area.

Despite the challenges, partners have established a new field hospital in Khan Younis, which includes 60 beds, two operating theaters and four ICU beds. The hospital will provide medical care to thousands of displaced of families in the Al Mawasi area.

Partners report that the Internet blackout that has affected Deir al Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah since yesterday has continued. Today, Israeli authorities denied repair missions, depriving people in need and humanitarian workers of vital communications and disrupting aid operations.

Meanwhile, OCHA warns that fuel stocks in Gaza have dwindled to dangerously low levels, jeopardizing critical lifelines for the population after more than 100 days with no fuel supplies entering the Strip.

Humanitarian operations have been pushed to the brink of collapse. It is urgent that more fuel is made available to run the backup generators needed to sustain a minimal level of life-saving aid operations.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reports that in view of fuel shortages, it is currently operating fewer than two dozen out of its fleet of 58 ambulances throughout the Strip.

Today, Israeli authorities approved a request to collect fuel from Al Tahreer fuel station in Rafah. That mission is still ongoing.

OCHA notes that the last successful mission to retrieve fuel from inside Gaza was completed one month ago, as Israeli authorities have repeatedly denied attempts to coordinate access for this purpose. OCHA continues to call for immediate, unimpeded humanitarian access – to fuel stocks, aid supplies, and people in need. It is critical that the Israeli authorities meaningfully facilitate humanitarians’ attempts to retrieve the fuel needed to power aid operations and life-sustaining services.

As hostilities continue, people in Gaza have once again been forced to flee. Yesterday, Israeli authorities issued another displacement order in Khan Younis and Deir al Balah. This has affected hundreds of families living in five neighborhoods. Five primary healthcare centres and three medical points are located within 1,000 metres of the displacement area. While some of these areas were already under displacement orders, 3 square kilometres have been newly designated. This means the area that is currently under displacement orders or located in Israeli-militarized zones amounts to more than 82 per cent of the Gaza Strip.

This week, partners are visiting newly established displacement sites west of Gaza city to assess the urgent needs and priorities of the displaced population.

Overall, during the past three months, humanitarian partners estimate that more than 680,000 people have been displaced once again across the Strip. This includes almost a quarter of a million people forced to flee just in the last 30 days alone.

Meanwhile, in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis this week, hundreds of people, including children, benefited from education sessions on explosive ordnance risks, child protection and violence prevention. In Deir al Balah, 300 children participated in recreational activities, while 100 caregivers received parenting support. These activities are critical for children, particularly given the disruption of education, emotional distress, and lack of child-friendly spaces.