UNICEF describes humanitarian disaster in Gaza, US unveils plan to deliver aid through private companies

GAZA STRIP — As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, the acute shortage of clean water has escalated into a dire struggle for survival. The collapse of essential infrastructure has turned a health and environmental emergency into a daily fight for life.

Olga Cherevko, a relief worker with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Gaza, highlighted the desperate conditions. “Access to water in Gaza has become nearly impossible,” she said, describing rising tensions and violence as residents compete for scarce resources.

A recent UNICEF report confirmed that 65-70% of Gaza’s water infrastructure has been destroyed during the ongoing conflict. This devastation has forced many Palestinians to engage in desperate measures to secure even minimal water supplies.

In response to the crisis, the United States announced controversial plans to establish a new entity to manage and distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza via private companies. The US and Israel are collaborating on a proposal to create limited distribution zones within Gaza. Each zone is intended to serve hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

While Israeli officials and a UN diplomat, speaking anonymously, confirmed the proposal, they acknowledged that logistical and operational details remain unresolved.

The plan has faced skepticism from relief organizations and the broader international community. The UN has expressed significant reservations about the feasibility of the initiative and has declined to participate. Critics argue that the plan does not address the systemic barriers that have exacerbated the crisis, including Israel’s two-month blockade, which has severely restricted aid access.