Cairo, March 17, 2025: The suspension of essential goods entering Gaza is deepening the humanitarian crisis, leading to food shortages, rising prices, and a looming health catastrophe, Palestinian officials warned Monday.
With bakeries shutting down and electricity cuts affecting clean water access, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over the plight of Gaza’s children.
UNICEF emphasized that nearly one million children in Gaza lack the basic necessities to survive. “Tragically, around 4,000 newborns are currently deprived of essential, lifesaving care due to the dire situation in Gaza’s medical facilities,” UNICEF stated.
The agency also warned that without access to ventilators, premature and vulnerable newborns—especially in northern Gaza—are at extreme risk. “There is no justification for preventing the entry of lifesaving medical supplies for children. UNICEF continues to advocate for immediate humanitarian access,” the statement added.
The Israeli government announced the suspension of food, medicine, and fuel imports last week, citing pressure tactics on Hamas in ceasefire negotiations.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) condemned the move, warning that it endangers the lives of millions already struggling under the weight of war. “Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people depend on aid. Halting humanitarian assistance is pushing an exhausted population to the brink,” UNRWA said.
Meanwhile, Hamas denounced the measure as “collective punishment”, stating it would not be pressured into concessions.
Abdel-Nasser Al-Ajrami, head of Gaza’s bakers’ union, revealed that six out of the 22 operating bakeries have already closed due to a lack of cooking gas.
“The remaining bakeries may shut down within a week if diesel and flour supplies do not resume,” he warned.
With limited food available, prices of basic goods have skyrocketed, forcing many families to ration their meals. Ghada al-Rakab, a 40-year-old mother of six living in a makeshift tent in Khan Younis, described her desperate struggle to secure food and water.
“No electricity, no water, no life. What kind of life is this? May God take us and give us rest,” she lamented. As Gaza faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, aid agencies and global organizations continue to call for urgent intervention to prevent further suffering.
