Nahost: UN: Notlage im Westjordanland und Gaza verschärft sich

The humanitarian crisis for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank is worsening, according to United Nations reports, but funding for the World Food Programme (WFP) has run out. By September, the WFP may only be able to provide food to half as many people as needed, according to Shaun Hughes, the WFP country director for Palestine.

The number of people in need has doubled over the past two years. Ongoing violence from settlers, numerous Israeli military operations, movement restrictions, destruction of homes, and displacement have all contributed to the dire situation. Many Palestinians who once fed themselves are now reliant on food aid. Nearly one million people, or a quarter of the population, often do not know where their next meal will come from.

The situation in Gaza is described by Hughes as brutal and unpredictable. Israeli airstrikes have damaged a WFP warehouse. Israeli military presence makes it dangerous for people to approach their once-organized fields. Bakeries need diesel and replacement parts to operate their ovens, which Israel rarely allows to enter. The World Health Organization representative for the occupied Palestinian territories, Reinhilde van de Weerdt, reports that people are struggling to survive among debris heaps and in unsanitary conditions.

Septic tank waste can be seen on the streets, and waste piles are growing. Diarrhea cases nearly doubled between January and August. Puddles serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, damp tents foster mold and bacteria.