DaysofPal – The Gaza Strip is welcoming the new year 2026 under catastrophic humanitarian conditions that threaten the lives of more than two million Palestinians, following over two years of war and its devastating aftermath, according to Adnan Abu Hasna, media adviser to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
In press statements, Abu Hasna said Gaza is facing an unprecedented crisis, stressing that UNRWA’s ability to operate has been severely hindered by Israeli restrictions and the continued blockage of humanitarian aid.
He explained that Israel is preventing the entry of thousands of aid trucks carrying food supplies and blankets, enough to meet the needs of approximately 1.1 million people, as well as quantities of flour sufficient to cover the needs of Gaza’s entire population. He added that the blocked aid also includes hundreds of thousands of tents, blankets, and plastic tarpaulins that could shelter around 1.3 million people.
Abu Hasna further noted that Israeli authorities continue to obstruct the work of the United Nations by barring international staff from entering Gaza and the West Bank, including preventing UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini from accessing both areas. He said these measures directly undermine the management and coordination of humanitarian and relief operations.
Severe Financial Shortfall
Alongside access restrictions, UNRWA is grappling with a severe financial crisis. Abu Hasna said the agency requires around $200 million by the end of March to cover staff salaries. He warned that the funding shortfall extends beyond Gaza and the West Bank to UNRWA’s operations in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, posing a serious threat to the agency’s ability to continue providing essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees.
Despite these challenges, Abu Hasna emphasized that UNRWA continues to operate across Gaza. He said the agency has managed to resume education for around 300,000 students in its schools, including 70,000 receiving in-person instruction, even though many school buildings were destroyed during the war. To address the damage, UNRWA has established hundreds of temporary learning spaces inside damaged schools, in coordination with local communities and within displacement shelters.
Overstretched Health and Relief Services
On the health front, Abu Hasna said UNRWA has opened several new clinics in northern Gaza and Gaza City, providing medical services to approximately 16,000 patients daily across the Strip. The agency has also continued solid waste collection efforts, removing thousands of tons of garbage, while supplying potable water to hundreds of thousands of residents.
In addition, UNRWA has delivered extensive psychosocial and mental health support. Since October 7, 2023, the agency has provided nearly 15 million medical and psychological consultations throughout Gaza, Abu Hasna said.
However, he stressed that conditions remain extremely dire, with hundreds of thousands of tents and clothing items still stranded at Gaza’s crossings, unable to reach refugees in desperate need.
International Support and Legal Backing
Addressing Israeli campaigns aimed at undermining UNRWA, Abu Hasna said these efforts rely on disinformation and attempts to discredit the agency’s role. He highlighted strong international backing for UNRWA, noting that 151 countries recently renewed their support for the agency for an additional three years. He described this as a clear message of global confidence in UNRWA’s mission and continued relevance.
Abu Hasna also pointed to a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice, which rejected Israel’s claims that UNRWA violated neutrality or breached UN resolutions. He said the court called on Israel to facilitate the agency’s work in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.
In the occupied West Bank, Abu Hasna said UNRWA faces further challenges due to ongoing Israeli military operations in refugee camps such as Tulkarm, Nur Shams, and Jenin, which have displaced more than 30,000 Palestinians so far. He also cited strict restrictions on the agency’s work in Jerusalem, compounding the humanitarian strain on Palestinian refugees across the region.
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