The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains extremely dire with potential consequences that will impact the region and exacerbate an already-fragile situation. On 21 October, a convoy of 20 aid trucks entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing, the first aid supplies reaching Gaza from the outside since the hostilities began on October 7. The United Nations calls for 100 trucks of aid supplies daily to meet the humanitarian needs of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents including one million newly displaced inside Gaza. However, fuel has not been allowed to enter Gaza yet. With Gaza under a complete siege and no water and electricity, fuel becomes life-saving as it is needed for generators to desalinate water and power hospitals. The Ministry of Health has warned that the delay in delivering fuel to hospitals puts the lives of thousands of patients and wounded at risk.

Among the 2,2 million affected population in Gaza, 1 in 4 are women and girls of reproductive age, around 572,000, and they need urgent access to reproductive health supplies and services.

Since the beginning of the crisis, UNFPA has sounded the alarm on the situation of women and girls who are facing extreme health and protection challenges. Among the 50,000 currently pregnant women in Gaza, around 5,500 are due to deliver within the next 30 days and over 840 may experience a child-birth related complication. Yet, access to emergency obstetric care is severely compromised with life-threatening consequences.