Author: Dr. Ola Alkahlout |
United Nations agencies discussed the challenges affecting the coordination of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip during a press briefing held in Geneva on 6 March 2026. Representatives from several UN agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), provided updates on the humanitarian situation and the operational constraints affecting the delivery of aid and services within the territory.
During the briefing, the World Health Organization stated that most crossings leading into Gaza remain closed or are operating at limited capacity, significantly restricting the entry of humanitarian supplies and limiting medical evacuation procedures for patients. The organization also indicated that a limited shipment of medical supplies was able to enter the Gaza Strip on 4 March through the Kerem Shalom crossing, although the volume of aid entering the territory remains far below the existing humanitarian needs.
The briefing further highlighted the continued deterioration of the health system inside Gaza. According to WHO, 18 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are currently non-operational due to infrastructure damage, shortages of medical supplies, and limited fuel required to operate health facilities. Estimates presented during the briefing indicate that 46% of essential medicines and 66% of essential medical supplies are currently unavailable in health facilities across the Gaza Strip, increasing pressure on the limited number of facilities that remain operational.
The United Nations also emphasized that ongoing restrictions on the entry of fuel and humanitarian assistance continue to hinder the operation of hospitals and critical infrastructure, limiting the capacity of humanitarian organizations to implement relief operations and respond to the growing needs of the population in Gaza.
These developments highlight the significant challenges facing the coordination of humanitarian operations in complex environments such as the Gaza Strip, where the effectiveness of humanitarian response largely depends on the regular flow of humanitarian assistance and the presence of effective coordination mechanisms among actors operating on the ground. In the context of restricted access and logistical constraints affecting the entry of supplies, coordination among UN agencies, international humanitarian organizations, and local partners becomes essential to identify humanitarian priorities and allocate limited resources to the most critical sectors.
The situation also underscores the importance of humanitarian monitoring, analysis, and information-sharing systems among humanitarian actors. Field data and joint analytical processes play a key role in identifying response gaps and guiding humanitarian planning based on evidence, thereby improving the efficiency of humanitarian interventions and strengthening the ability of humanitarian actors to respond to the evolving needs of affected populations.
