Despite a ceasefire being in place for over two weeks, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic, with aid deliveries falling far short of needs and hunger at famine levels, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that while the flow of aid has increased since the US-brokered ceasefire took effect on October 10, it remains "only a fraction of what's needed" and has made "no dent in hunger" . The ceasefire agreement provides for the entry of 600 aid trucks per day, but currently, only between 200 and 300 trucks are getting in . A significant complicating factor is that a "good number of the trucks are commercial," putting essential goods out of reach for the many Palestinians in Gaza who have no resources left to buy them . The UN has reiterated that Israel must allow "more trucks at more crossing points," as aid levels remain far below the minimum required to meet the population's needs .
Gaza's health system, ravaged by two years of conflict, is unable to cope with the immense needs. Dr. Tedros reported that there are no fully functioning hospitals in Gaza, with only 14 of 36 hospitals operating at all amid critical shortages of essential medicines, equipment, and health workers . The situation is compounded by the more than 170,000 people living with injuries, including 5,000 amputees and 3,600 people with major burns . While the WHO has facilitated the evacuation of some patients for external care, an estimated 15,000 patients still require treatment outside Gaza, including 4,000 children .
The collapse of water, sanitation, and shelter systems has created a perfect storm for disease. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reports that illnesses directly linked to poor living conditions, such as skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal infections account for 70% of all outpatient consultations in southern Gaza . The lack of clean water and sanitation has triggered a surge in waterborne diseases, with MSF treating over 78,000 cases of diarrhea since the conflict began . For the thousands of people with amputations or disabilities, the dire conditions in displacement camps compromise recovery and make accessing latrines and clinics extremely difficult .
The challenges facing Gaza's recovery are monumental. Beyond the immediate crisis, the territory is littered with unexploded ordnance. The aid group Humanity & Inclusion describes Gaza as a "horrific, unmapped minefield" and estimates that clearing the surface of bombs will take 20 to 30 years, with subterranean explosives remaining a threat for generations . Meanwhile, the total cost of rebuilding the Gaza health system alone is estimated to be at least $7 billion .