A coalition of over 200 aid organizations and senior UN officials, known as the Humanitarian Country Team, issued a stark warning on Tuesday regarding the future of humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip. The group is calling for international pressure on Israeli authorities to reverse new measures they say are severely hindering aid delivery.
New Regulations Threaten Aid Operations
The core of the concern is a new registration system for international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) implemented earlier this year. Aid groups describe the process as vague, politically motivated, and fundamentally incompatible with humanitarian principles.
Dozens of organizations are now facing potential deregistration by the end of December, which would lead to the closure of their operations in the territory within weeks. The Humanitarian Country Team stated plainly, “If they are pushed out, the humanitarian response will not survive.” Millions of dollars in essential supplies – including food, medicine, hygiene products, and shelter – are currently stalled outside of Gaza, unable to reach those in need.
Impact on Essential Services
The potential loss of these NGOs is particularly concerning given existing constraints on aid delivery. Restrictions placed on the Palestine refugee relief agency, UNRWA, have already strained the humanitarian response to its limits. According to the Humanitarian Country Team, international NGOs are vital to Gaza’s basic infrastructure, supporting field hospitals, primary health clinics, water and sanitation systems, and malnutrition treatment programs.
The closure of NGO operations could result in one in three health facilities in Gaza shutting down, immediately impacting care for tens of thousands of patients. Aid leaders report that repeated attempts to find workable solutions with Israeli authorities have been unsuccessful, and the dismantling of NGO operations now appears likely.
The Humanitarian Country Team emphasized that humanitarian access is a legal obligation, and called for “lifesaving assistance” to be delivered “without further delay.” The warning comes as winter sets in and amid concerns that further restrictions could jeopardize a fragile ceasefire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Humanitarian Country Team?
The Humanitarian Country Team brings together senior UN officials and more than 200 local and international aid groups.
What is the primary concern regarding the new registration system?
Aid groups say the new registration system is vague, politicized, and impossible to meet without breaching humanitarian principles.
What could happen if NGOs are forced to leave Gaza?
If NGOs are forced to leave, one in three health facilities in Gaza would close, and the humanitarian response would not survive.
What steps might be taken next will likely depend on international response and any potential adjustments made by Israeli authorities. It is possible that further negotiations will occur, but the Humanitarian Country Team’s statement suggests a sense of urgency and a lack of optimism. Without a change in course, the situation for civilians in Gaza could deteriorate rapidly.
