DaysofPal- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday that Israel continues to block the entry of life-saving humanitarian supplies for malnourished children in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said that 938,000 ready-to-use infant formula units have been withheld since August, preventing critical aid from reaching infants in need.
Pires added that restrictions on other essential humanitarian materials, including birthing kits, solar-powered refrigerators, spare parts, generators, and water purification supplies, are severely hindering relief operations in the enclave.
While the overall volume of humanitarian aid entering Gaza has increased in recent weeks, with around 5,500 trucks entering between October 12 and November 10, Pires stressed that many vital items remain prohibited from entry.
He noted that UNICEF, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, has managed to deliver one million vaccine doses to Gaza, launching a campaign to immunize more than 40,000 children under the age of three who missed routine vaccinations during the past two years of war.
According to Pires, the campaign, which began on Sunday, vaccinated about 2,400 children on its first day. The three-phase campaign will continue through January 2026, operating across 149 health facilities, 10 mobile units, and involving 450 trained health workers.
Pires emphasized that improving Gaza’s humanitarian situation requires the unrestricted entry of all essential goods, warning that sustained aid delivery is the only way to save children’s lives and restore hope.
The Gaza Ministry of Health confirmed that the Israeli occupation continues to impose tight restrictions on medical supplies and equipment, even after the ceasefire agreement.
Dr. Zuheir Al-Wahidi, head of the ministry’s Health Information Unit, reported that these restrictions have resulted in a 56% shortage in medicines, 68% in medical supplies, and 67% in laboratory materials, further crippling Gaza’s fragile healthcare system.
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