UN humanitarians deliver food to nearly 1 mln people in Gaza despite halved February rations

"Under an already fragile health system, these patients face challenges, especially since the entry of prosthetics and other essential assistive devices remains heavily restricted," the office said.

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- UN humanitarians said Friday that food has been distributed to about 200,000 families, or nearly 1 million people, in the Gaza Strip this month despite rations being cut by half.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the ration reduction occurred mainly due to insufficient supplies in Gaza, adding that around two-thirds of the aid trucks coming through the Egypt corridor this month were sent back.

Of the coordinated humanitarian movements planned on Thursday, four were facilitated, while five missions were impeded, OCHA said, adding that a request to assess a water, sanitation and hygiene facility in northern Gaza was outright denied.

"Under an already fragile health system, these patients face challenges, especially since the entry of prosthetics and other essential assistive devices remains heavily restricted," the office said. "The UN and partners continue to call for impediments to be lifted so they can scale up assistance." ■