Gaza Herald- Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has warned that escalating tensions across the Middle East are diverting international attention away from the Gaza Strip, despite the humanitarian situation there remaining extremely severe, even with a ceasefire in place.
Speaking in a press interview on Sunday, Cherevko explained that recent regional developments—including the US-Israeli war on Iran—have contributed to shifting focus away from Gaza. She noted that this decline in attention began even after the ceasefire agreement came into effect.
According to Cherevko, Israel continues to block the entry of agreed-upon food, medical supplies, and shelter into Gaza, exacerbating the impact of ongoing deadly bombardments. Around 2.4 million Palestinians, including 1.5 million displaced people, are now facing catastrophic humanitarian conditions.
She highlighted the dire living situation in the territory, where the majority of residents have been displaced, with thousands still living in camps or among the rubble.
Cherevko warned that Gaza remains subject to near-daily attacks, leaving civilians in a constant state of fear, while humanitarian access continues to be severely restricted. More than half of the territory is reportedly inaccessible due to the presence of Israeli forces.
She added that only around 42 per cent of health facilities are currently operational, most of them functioning at limited capacity. Israeli restrictions on crossings are preventing the delivery of essential equipment and supplies needed to restore the healthcare system.
Cherevko also noted that the World Health Organization is facilitating medical evacuations for patients, although the process remains highly complex.
She concluded by warning that Israeli restrictions are also preventing international humanitarian workers from entering Gaza, stressing that any further disruption to aid operations could have catastrophic consequences for the population.
