GAZA CITY: The United Nations, in collaboration with its humanitarian partners, has launched a flash appeal for nearly $4.1 billion to address the urgent needs of 3.3 million people across the Palestinian territories, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, for the year 2025. The appeal underscores the severe constraints aid organizations expect to face, limiting the scale of humanitarian assistance. According to Kuwait News Agency, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) emphasized that the requested amount is significantly less than the $6.6 billion required for a comprehensive response. The majority of the funds, nearly 90 percent, are allocated for humanitarian efforts in Gaza, with the remaining 10 percent designated for the West Bank. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is exacerbated by the unprecedented scale of violence and destruction following 14 months of hostilities, affecting the entire population of 2.1 million people. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has experienced a rise in violence, demolitions, displacement, and settlement expansion. In central Gaza, Israeli authorities issued another evacuation order for areas in the Deir al Balah governorate. This marks the third such order this year, affecting an estimated 10,000 people in a 3 square kilometer area, partially within the Al Mawasi zone. The OCHA has warned that large-scale evacuation orders now impacting approximately 80 percent of the Gaza Strip leave civilians vulnerable and without access to essential services. Humanitarian Coordinator Muhannad Hadi recently visited the Gaza Strip, witnessing the devastation of the health sector and meeting with displaced individuals and youth groups. During his visit to hospitals, including Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah, Hadi observed the challenges faced by medical facilities under repeated attacks. Hadi commended the resilience of medical teams working under dire conditions and called for immediate measures b y Israel to facilitate the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to meet civilian needs. The UN continues to monitor the situation closely and provide support to those affected by the ongoing crisis.
