The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that North Gaza occupants are facing deteriorating survival conditions as of Tuesday, a consequence of Israeli blocking of aid efforts. OCHA highlighted that all attempts to get UN aid to North Gaza for the last 40 days were denied or impeded by Israel, while central and southern Gaza are experiencing “severe hunger.” The update on the situation comes as the UN Security Council held another ceasefire vote today.

OCHA reports that no aid has reached North Gaza for over 40 days. Due to the Israeli Defense Force (IDF)’s tight ground offensive in the area, 27 of 21 coordination requests by the UN to access the territory between the first and 18th were denied. The remaining four were initially allowed, only to be impeded. Fuel has also been denied, as OCHO reports that “no fuel was let in for water, sanitation and hygiene facilities”, and there is no fuel for digging equipment, preventing civilians trapped in rubble from being rescued.

The World Food Programme reported that “only seven out of the 19 bakeries” are still operational in Gaza and there is a threat of famine. Israel also attacked the only operational hospital in North Gaza, today, which holds 85 women and children.

Earlier this month, Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, described the situation:

…Israeli authorities are blocking humanitarian assistance from entering North Gaza, where fighting continues, and around 75,000 people remain with dwindling water and food supplies. Conditions of life across Gaza are unfit for human survival. Food is insufficient. Shelter items – needed ahead of winter – are in extremely short supply.

David Lammy, UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, condemned the prevention of aid efforts, saying that there is “no excuse for Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid”.

International Humanitarian Law indicates that parties must “refrain from deliberately impeding the delivery of relief supplies to civilians in need in areas under its control.” Article 8 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court outlines that “willfully impeding relief supplies” which results in the starvation of civilians is a war crime. The Fourth Geneva Convention protects civilians’ right to access humanitarian relief.