UN News Today 05 March 2025 |

Gaza: Israeli aid restrictions threaten care for most vulnerable, warns UNICEF

The aid blockade announced by Israeli authorities on Sunday has left Gazans afraid of a return to war and lifesaving healthcare services under threat, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has warned.

The agency said that despite the huge influx of humanitarian goods into Gaza during the now uncertain ceasefire, there is not enough to make up the shortfall. 

Speaking from Gaza to UN News, UNICEF’s Rosalia Bollen said that among the relief still needed are vaccines and ventilators for pre-term babies:

“If we’re unable to bring that in, routine vaccination will come to a standstill. Neonatal units won’t be able to care for preterm babies, so this is a real-life consequence that we’ll be dealing with very, very soon if we’re unable to resume the aid supplies coming in.”

Ms. Bollen said that existing aid supplies have already been largely distributed throughout Gaza and that it has not been possible to stockpile goods which remain a “lifeline” for families.

Ukraine’s Odesa hit in Russian attacks disrupting power supplies: OCHA

To Ukraine, where UN humanitarians have warned that further Russian attacks have impacted communities in Odesa, in the south of the country.

The military strikes damaged homes, pre-schools and disrupted power and gas supplies, according to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA.

In frontline areas, dozens of casualties were also reported in the aftermath of more attacks last weekend.

Local authorities said that there were around 70 civilian casualties, including children, after strikes in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Odesa, Kherson, Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia damaged a hospital, homes, schools, gas pipelines and port infrastructure.

To help people affected by the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion, humanitarian organizations have provided emergency support including hot meals, blankets and emergency shelter kits to cover damaged windows.

Attacks on minorities account for 70 per cent of hate speech: Human Rights Council

UN human rights deputy chief Nada Al-Nashif said on Wednesday that international law principles protecting humanity from atrocity crimes are under threat.  

“We are living through dangerous times as deep divisions and extreme views feed both conflict and violence” in several regions of the world, Ms. Al-Nashif said told the Human Rights Council.  

Genocide is preceded by “clear patterns of discrimination of exclusion and incitement to hatred based on race, ethnicity, religion or other characteristics,” she said, as she noted that a full 70 per cent of targets of hate speech are minorities.

“Genocide happens when humanity’s moral compass fails, when hateful ideologies proliferate, and when the dehumanization of an entire group of people is allowed to take root,” Ms. Al-Nashif insisted – before condemning States who sell arms and provide military, logistical or financial support to warring parties – in violation of international law.

Daniel Johnson, UN News

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