The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Crisis response in Gaza
The ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to have devastating consequences for the people of the State of Palestine. With the UN and partners, we’re supporting the humanitarian response efforts.
Since 7 October 2023, severe hostilities in the Gaza Strip have led to significant loss and damage. Around 47,000 Palestinians have died* and around 1.9 million people, or 85 per cent of the population, have been internally displaced.
This page is continuously updated
* According to OCHA humanitarian situation update #259, 28 January 2025
Moving humanitarian aid
Stay up-to-date on the movement of materials into Gaza through Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings.
Critical infrastructure damage amounts to an estimated $18 billion. Around 90 per cent of health facilities have been damaged or destroyed, electricity shortages have led to frequent blackouts, the water and sanitation system has nearly collapsed, and over 90 per cent of primary roads have been damaged.
The severe damage combined with ongoing hostilities and restrictions on the movement of people and goods has seriously impaired the delivery of basic humanitarian aid. Over 1 million people now face catastrophic levels of food insecurity.
Against unimaginable hardship, UNOPS is committed to staying and delivering for the people of Gaza, enabling access, enhancing security, and working towards sustainable peace and development.
To support the emergency humanitarian response, we’re working with the UN family and partners to bring life-saving supplies into Gaza and help safeguard critical humanitarian aid efforts.
In addition, the UN Secretary-General has tasked UNOPS with supporting the full operationalization of the Office of Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza and the establishment of a UN mechanism to facilitate, coordinate, monitor and verify humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza. This UN mechanism is designed to enhance the speed and efficiency of aid delivery into Gaza and will involve orchestrating large-scale aid distributions through the various land entry points.
Latest news and stories
Statement
Joint UN statement: World must act with urgency to save Palestinians in Gaza
Published 7 April 2025
UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director, Jorge Moreira da Silva, joined heads of OCHA, UNICEF, UNRWA, WFP, WHO and IOM in a joint-statement on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Statement attributable to Jorge Moreira da Silva, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director. He made the statement after visiting Gaza, as part of a six-day Middle East visit to Lebanon, Syria, Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.
Joint statement on the opening of a maritime corridor to Gaza
Published 21 February 2024
Statement by Sigrid Kaag, UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza and Jorge Moreira da Silva, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director, welcoming the opening of a maritime corridor to Gaza.
Statement on the Secretary-General’s assignment of UNOPS support to the Office of the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza
Published 27 December 2023
Statement by UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva on the Secretary-General’s assignment of UNOPS support to the Office of the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza.
Statement by Jorge Moreira da Silva, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director, on the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The UN is racing against time to expand humanitarian relief and prepare for the monumental task of rebuilding #Gaza, as a fragile ceasefire holds but tensions loom over a potential resumption of fighting.https://t.co/LZZiS8SaeFpic.twitter.com/XcTwHQSfaC
Gaza is in crisis: 70% of infrastructure, 60% of homes, and 65% of roads are gone. Clearing 50M tons of rubble is urgent. @UNOPS is committed to both immediate aid and long-term rebuilding. Restoring power, water, hospitals, schools, shelters and roads for the future. pic.twitter.com/sKxOoXYC4i
“We cannot over emphasize the challenges of delivering humanitarian response in Gaza right now. The design and implementation of mechanism matter immensely. We remain committed to action” – Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of @UNOPS, to Security Council pic.twitter.com/0JLUwOBTMi
As Sigrid Kaag said yesterday, the mechanism (supported by @UNOPS) is now taking humanitarian aid shipments from Jordan, Cyprus, Israel, & the West Bank into #Gaza.
However the overall amount of aid getting into Gaza is minimal - we must do more to meet the needs. https://t.co/stE3g4k9Jl
— Jorge Moreira da Silva (@UNOPS_Chief) July 3, 2024
Despite challenges, @WFP & @UNOPS recently delivered fuel to a bakery in northern Gaza, allowing it to function again for the first time in months.
Amid the threat of impending famine, humanitarians call for safe, unimpeded humanitarian access.pic.twitter.com/FJNcbpweDj
Just concluded a joint visit to #Gaza with my colleague @SigridKaag, Senior Humanitarian & Reconstruction Coordinator. @UNOPS was tasked by the @UN SG @antonioguterres to operationalize & manage the mechanism to facilitate, coordinate, monitor and verify humanitarian aid to Gaza. pic.twitter.com/GNwZh1Mg9G
Today, 28 of the 31 premature babies, who were evacuated from the Al-Shifa hospital yesterday, were safely transferred in Al-Arish to receive medical treatment in #Egypt. From there, 12 babies were flown to Cairo.
