UN Suspends All Food Distribution in Rafah Amid Horrific Health, Sanitation Situation

The United Nations has halted food distribution in the southern Gaza city of Rafah due to a lack of supplies and an untenable security situation caused by Israel’s expanding military operation, the Associated Press reported yesterday.

The UN warned that humanitarian operations across the territory are nearing collapse, the source mentioned.

Over the past two weeks, hundreds of thousands have fled Rafah, with 400,000 still believed to be in the city after around 900,000 rushed to escape the violence.

Meanwhile, the ongoing military invasion of Rafah in Gaza has severely impacted the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) conditions in the region. Some Palestinians are surviving on just 3% of the minimum water intake standard, leading to increased cases of acute watery diarrhea and water-borne diseases like Hepatitis among children and families. Essential hygiene supplies are taking months to arrive, and displaced populations are sharing latrines far beyond minimum standards.

The humanitarian community has been denied access to address the growing piles of contaminated garbage, which are further exacerbating health issues and disease outbreaks. A rapid health assessment found that hospitals in central Gaza lack sufficient resources to prevent disease spread, highlighting the dire situation.