GENEVA, March 21 (KUNA) -- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) warned on Friday of renewed aggression by Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of more than 600 people including 200 women and children.
The absence of humanitarian and commercial supplies entering Gaza since the beginning of March marks the longest period without aid since October 7, said UNRWA representative in Gaza Sam Rose.
The intense bombardment and widespread evacuation orders by Israeli occupation forces have caused a wide-scale displacement of the Netzarim corridor, and has led to an almost total evacuation of the area, Rose reported.
Rose also warned that blockage on humanitarian aid to Gaza threatens all progress made in the humanitarian response, including efforts to restore education for children and rehabilitate the health sector.
He noted that UNRWA had managed to reinstate education for over 200,000 children in recent weeks since the announcement of a ceasefire.
For his part, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder stated that for the first time in history, the organization has recorded such a vast number of children in urgent need of psychological support in one area as is the case in Gaza today.
Additionally, spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFCR) Tommaso Della Longa highlighted that the blockade on Gaza has severely damaged its healthcare system, stressing that only 23 out of 53 ambulances are operational due to fuel shortages, leaving many people trapped under rubble without rescue. (End) imk.sas