Gaza: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that funding for the humanitarian response in the occupied Palestinian territories remains a major challenge, adding that only 4% of the required funds have been secured.

According to Qatar News Agency, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated in a press release that the scale of the needs is significant, and the funding shortfall is equally concerning. He highlighted the deteriorating food security situation in Gaza, exacerbated by the Israeli entity’s closure of all crossings to humanitarian aid.

Dujarric further explained that while food security partners are distributing vegetable seeds and animal feed to aid local food production, this effort is contingent upon the continuous inflow of supplies. The situation is also affecting education, as access restrictions have resulted in shortages of educational supplies in the markets.

Some students have managed to return to school after displaced families vacated school buildings used as shelters. However, Dujarric noted that these facilities lack essential amenities, including proper furniture, clean water, functioning toilets, and basic materials like paper and pencils.

The Israeli occupation had previously announced the suspension of all aid entry into the Gaza Strip following the conclusion of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.