Ramallah:According to Palestine News and Information Agency, Ramez Alakbarov, the Acting UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, has highlighted the ongoing humanitarian challenges in the Gaza Strip, despite some improvements in food supply access.
Persistent issues in the region include water, sanitation, shelter, and waste management, with a heavy reliance on aid and cash assistance due to a stagnant labor market. The United Nations continues to provide support in various sectors such as water, sanitation, health, debris removal, education, and agriculture. Over 300,000 children are currently receiving education in temporary learning spaces, and agricultural activity is limited due to a scarcity of available land.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is still operating under restrictions, with over 8,000 individuals reported missing under the rubble in Gaza. Residents are eager to avoid another winter in tents and aspire to return to schools and work, aid in community rebuilding, and restore essential services like water, sanitation, and electricity.
In the West Bank, Alakbarov described the atmosphere as 'extremely tense,' citing factors such as ongoing settlement expansion, settler violence, movement restrictions, and economic pressures. The UN is extending grants, cash assistance, and legal support to the affected families and communities.
On the political front, Alakbarov emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive approach to the Palestinian issue, advocating for the two-state solution, rebuilding trust, ending incitement to violence, and supporting the unity of Palestinian institutions.