As of late 2024, the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is dire, with 1.55 million children and 3.3 million people needing assistance, and 1.9 million internally displaced persons, representing 90% of the population.

The situation is particularly critical in the northern governorate, where access to essential resources like food, water, and medical supplies is severely restricted.

An ongoing energy crisis has exacerbated conditions, especially in northern Gaza, where residents have been forced to burn waste for cooking due to a lack of cooking gas for over 13 months.

Dietary diversity has plummeted among vulnerable populations, with reports indicating that 80% of households have had at least one child go without food in the past three days.

Health facilities are overwhelmed, with reports of health workers turning away patients due to shortages of medical supplies amid increased demand during the winter months.

In the Middle Area and the South, where most of the population resides, conditions have rapidly deteriorated, leading to poor health and nutrition among children and limited access to basic services.

Market surveys reveal severe shortages of essential goods, particularly wheat flour, with prices soaring to approximately $6.90 per kilo, contributing to widespread food insecurity.

The education sector has also been severely impacted, with 534 schools in the Gaza Strip damaged, affecting nearly 95% of educational institutions.

In response to the educational crisis, UNICEF has established 99 Temporary Learning Spaces, benefiting over 52,000 children by providing opportunities for learning and recreation.

UNICEF and its partners have managed to supply water to 1.8 million people in the Gaza Strip, including more than 700,000 children, amidst the ongoing crisis.

Since the escalation of hostilities on October 7, 2023, UNICEF has provided humanitarian cash transfers to over 1 million individuals, including 588,000 children, despite facing unprecedented challenges.

The conflict has also spilled into the West Bank, where there have been 1,600 attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians since October 7, resulting in the displacement of over 6,500 individuals, including many children.