Oxfam has sounded the alarm over a worsening humanitarian catastrophe in North Gaza, reporting that only 12 aid trucks carrying food and water have successfully entered the area in the past 2.5 months.

In a Sunday statement, the UK-based charity said the limited aid deliveries have been systematically obstructed and delayed by the Israeli military, leaving thousands of Palestinians in dire conditions.

According to Oxfam, of the 34 UN aid trucks granted permission to enter since October 6, deliberate delays at checkpoints and military interference allowed just a fraction to reach civilians. In some cases, shelters receiving aid were shelled within hours of delivery.

"Thousands of people are estimated to still be cut off, but with humanitarian access blocked it’s impossible to know exact numbers," it said. "At the beginning of December, humanitarian organisations operating in Gaza were receiving calls from vulnerable people trapped in homes and shelters that had completely run out of food and water."

Aid Obstructed and Targeted

The latest convoy of nine aid trucks permitted by Israel on December 20 reached Beit Hanoun, where civilians sheltering in schools described barely surviving on scraps. People reported eating leaves to stave off hunger, with children and women risking disease and injury while scavenging.

Oxfam detailed an earlier incident where three trucks carrying rations to a school in Beit Hanoun were followed by shelling that destroyed the shelter. In another instance, 11 trucks were forced to offload aid in a militarized zone, rendering it inaccessible to the desperate population.

Soaring food prices and scarcity exacerbate the crisis. A single egg reportedly costs nearly $6, and families can only afford to buy minimal amounts, such as a single tomato or green pepper. With only five operational bakeries in Gaza, residents endure overcrowded queues from the early hours to secure basic supplies.

“Apocalyptic” Conditions in Gaza

Sally Abi-Khalil, Oxfam’s Middle East and North Africa Director, described the conditions in Gaza as “apocalyptic,” condemning the use of starvation as a weapon of war.

“It is abhorrent that despite international law being so publicly violated by Israel and starvation being used relentlessly as a weapon of war, world leaders continue to do nothing,” said Abi-Khalil.

“Gaza has been widely destroyed and the entire population is suffering”, he added. “The public sector has collapsed and the humanitarian system is on its knees. We plead with the entire international community – stop this, now. You have the diplomatic and economic levers to make Israel stop. Every day that passes without a ceasefire is a death sentence for hundreds more civilians.”

Humanitarian and Civilian Devastation

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) recently warned of a strong likelihood of famine in North Gaza. Gaza’s healthcare system has collapsed, with critical supplies, including anesthetics, unavailable. Children in Gaza now represent the highest number of amputees globally, further highlighting the toll of the ongoing conflict.

The ongoing siege has displaced 130,000 people from North Gaza, 70% of whom are women and girls. Winter weather has compounded their suffering, with over 900,000 people lacking adequate protection from rain and cold.

Oxfam’s Call to Action

Oxfam demanded an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, and an end to the obstruction of humanitarian aid. The organization called for the protection of civilians and unrestricted access to lifesaving aid across Gaza.

“Palestinians must be given the freedom to move home, rebuild, and live in peace and dignity, free of occupation or blockade,” Oxfam asserted.