Amman, Dec. 16 (Petra)- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Tuesday of delays in the arrival of humanitarian aid to Gaza, as winter storms continue to exacerbate the already deteriorating living conditions of displaced families.

According to the UN News website, OCHA spokesperson in Gaza Olga Cherevko said that needs are increasing at a pace faster than humanitarian organizations are able to deliver assistance, despite the ongoing efforts exerted by the United Nations and its partners.

She stressed that the humanitarian community continues to provide aid, but that needs are outstripping the speed of the response, pointing to the limited volume of supplies entering the Strip and the growing list of items that Israeli occupation authorities continue to prevent from entering the territory, including heavy machinery, equipment, and spare parts needed to repair damaged infrastructure.

Cherevko explained that significant restrictions on humanitarian operations remain in place, as the number of routes available for transporting aid remains limited, as do the crossings through which supplies are permitted to enter, stressing the need to lift all of these obstacles at a time when people’s needs are rising faster than the ability to meet them.

//Petra// AF