Humanitarian operations in Gaza seriously hampered - increased risk of starvation

The death toll reaches 50,000 and continues to rise amid Israeli air strikes, blockades of aid and electricity, and new mass displacements. A restored ceasefire is crucial.

A Palestinian man returns to what remains of his home in northern Gaza during the ceasefire. Photo: Alef Multimedia Company/ Oxfam

The work of Oxfam and our partners has been severely hampered as Israel's renewed military assault and ground offensive on Gaza continues for the seventh day.

Oxfam is calling for a renewed ceasefire and for Israel to lift its 23-day siege, which is once again blocking aid supplies and increasing the risk of starvation for desperate civilians. Israel imposed a full blockade 23 days ago and cut off power to Gaza a few days later.

Israeli authorities are denying access to trucks carrying 63,000 tons of food for 1.1 million people. Activities have been forced to stop in key areas such as food security and livelihoods, as well as hygiene promotion and essential repair works of damaged water infrastructure.

"During the 42-day ceasefire, families in Gaza could finally go to sleep knowing that their loved ones would still be next to them when they woke up. Although the aid that came in was not enough - it was far from sufficient - it was something. The price of food stabilized. Grocery stores and bakeries reopened. Many people even returned to their homes or what was left of it and tried to repair and rebuild, no matter how little they could do."

Bushra Khalidi, Policy Officer for Oxfam in Palestine and Israel.

Humanitarian organizations were able to carry out operations that allowed more than 4,000 trucks per week to enter Gaza, despite the fact that Israeli authorities initially only partially opened the crossings and stopped much of the urgently needed reconstruction material. Oxfam reached almost 200,000 people with essential aid.

Israel's recent bombing of residential areas, including Jabalia and Khan Younis, has killed nearly 700 people, including at least 200 children since 18 March. Israeli authorities have issued new mass displacement orders, forcing some 120,000 Palestinians to flee across at least 37% of Gaza. These orders are causing panic and chaos in the absence of any safe haven in Gaza.

Oxfam says humanitarian operations have been severely hampered by the lack of guarantees of safety for aid workers moving in Gaza.

Oxfam and partners say their storage facilities containing food parcels are severely depleted. Israeli authorities have denied access to Oxfam shipments of 6 desalination units and 7 trucks of water and sanitation infrastructure, up to 85% of which has been destroyed by Israeli bombing.

"Oxfam, through its partners, has been able to initiate emergency water shipments across the Gaza Strip and is maintaining some other relief programs, such as multi-purpose cash transfers, despite the difficult challenges all humanitarian workers now face around the lack of shelter."

Bushra Khalidi, Policy Officer for Oxfam in Palestine and Israel.

"Over the past 535 days, Israel has systematically used access to life-saving aid as a weapon, practicing collective punishment against the people of Gaza. Cutting off the supply of food, water, fuel and electricity is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Many in the international community are enabling this through their silence, inaction and complicity."

Bushra Khalidi, Policy Officer for Oxfam in Palestine and Israel.

Oxfam's health partner in Gaza, Juzoor for Health and Social Development, had its center in Jabalia destroyed in an airstrike on 18 March. It had previously received over 1,000 patients daily.

"Every airstrike that hits threatens the lives and safety of our dedicated staff and the patients they care for. This center is not just a building; it is the heartbeat of care for countless families here. Without it, many will lose access to crucial medical care."

Dr. Umaiyeh Khammash, Director of Juzoor.

In another attack yesterday (March 23), three sewage operators from Abasan Al Kabira municipality working with Oxfam's partner Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) were killed while carrying out their duties when their clearly marked truck was destroyed in an attack by Israeli military.

A renewed ceasefire must be permanent and followed by the safe return of Israeli hostages and illegally detained Palestinian prisoners. Israel must provide unrestricted aid on a large scale. Oxfam calls on governments to stop transferring arms, and the international community to enforce international law. We reiterate our call for justice and accountability for all concerned.

Background:

• Oxfam works with 19 partner organizations in the Gaza Strip. Between January 20 and February 28, 2025, Oxfam reached a total of 181,622 people across the Gaza Strip with water and sanitation services, including repair and reconstruction, shelter, multi-purpose cash assistance, food package distribution, and essential agricultural inputs for recovery, protection, health care and case management.

• Since Israel's violation of the ceasefire and airstrikes on Gaza on March 18, Oxfam's ability to move around Gaza has been severely restricted, in the absence of a notification system. This week, Oxfam's programs in Gaza, including many partners, have been severely affected. Oxfam is still able to undertake some water transportation and multi-purpose cash distribution, but under high-risk conditions.

• The death toll in Gaza is based on reports from the Palestinian Ministry of Health on March 24 (11:00) and the number of dead children was reported by UNICEF on March 21.

• Since March 2, Israeli authorities have reimposed a total siege and blockaded the entire Gaza Strip. They prohibit the entry of all basic humanitarian supplies, including water, food, medical supplies and fuel, and ban all commercial supplies from entering Gaza.

• On March 10, Israeli authorities cut off the electricity supply to the only operational large-scale drinking water desalination plant. With the exception of the last remaining electricity supply to the desalination plant, Gaza has been under a power cut since October 11, 2023.

• The current siege is one week longer than in 2023, when the Israeli authorities imposed a total siege lasting from October 7-21, 2023.

• According to the IPC Special Snapshot - September 2024 - April 2025, the risk of famine remains between November 2024 and April 2025 as long as the conflict is ongoing and humanitarian access is limited.

• According to the Palestinian Water Authority, 85% of the water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed as a result of Israeli bombing.

• The UN reported that during the 42-day ceasefire, a total of 4,000 trucks per week entered Gaza, 600,000 people received polio vaccines and maternal care was provided for 5,000 births.