In southern Gaza's city of Rafah, food distribution has come to a halt due to severe shortages and ongoing insecurity, according to the United Nations (UN). The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, has raised concerns over the inaccessibility of its distribution center and the World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse, both affected by the Israeli military operation against Hamas in eastern Rafah.

The Israeli offensive, which began two weeks ago in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas, has forced over 815,000 of the one million refugees in Rafah to flee their homes. The dire situation has been further exacerbated by the lack of medical supplies reaching Unrwa's health centers, now enduring a 10-day scarcity.

In a disheartening development, the US expressed doubt regarding the distribution of aid in northern Gaza, indicating that humanitarian organizations may not have provided assistance to Palestinians. This revelation came after a crowd of desperate Palestinians intercepted WFP trucks transporting aid from a newly-completed floating pier. As a result, deliveries have been suspended until new routes can be established.

The ongoing military campaign by Israel aims to eliminate Hamas and secure victory. However, the UN and Western powers have cautioned against a full-scale assault, warning of potential civilian casualties and a humanitarian catastrophe. Israel's Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, stated the commitment to expand the ground operation in Rafah.

Unrwa released a report on Tuesday, stating that food distribution had been suspended due to the inaccessibility caused by the Israeli operation. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized the consequences of the halt by stating, "People don't eat."

The exact number of people remaining in Rafah remains unclear; however, the head of Unrwa suggested on Sunday that over 800,000 people were displaced, with nearly half of the population on the move. The IDF has directed refugees to an expanded humanitarian area but concerns have been raised about its overcrowding and lack of clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.

The IDF reported that targeted raids were ongoing in eastern Rafah, claiming the elimination of dozens of terrorists attempting to approach their positions. The IDF also noted its facilitation of aid transportation, reporting that 381 aid lorries were transferred via the Kerem Shalom crossing on Tuesday, along with an additional 70 entering northern Gaza via the Erez West crossing. However, there are still 650 lorry loads waiting for collection by aid agencies at the two crossings.

In March, a UN-backed assessment warned of the impending famine in Gaza, with 1.1 million people facing catastrophic levels of hunger. Although no formal famine declaration has been made, WFP executive director Cindy McCain recently stated that "there is full-blown famine in the north, and it's moving its way south." This dire situation further underscores the urgent need for uninterrupted aid distribution.

Meanwhile, the first shipments of aid from the US military's floating pier have arrived in Gaza but have yet to be distributed by humanitarian organizations, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj Gen Pat Ryder.

Efforts are underway to identify alternative routes for the safe movement of staff and cargo, with discussions involving the US, Israel, and the UN. However, the immediate challenges lie in ensuring the provision of essential aid to the vulnerable population in Rafah.

The humanitarian crisis deepens as food shortages persist and insecurity remains a major challenge in Rafah. Urgent action is required to ensure the prompt and safe distribution of essential supplies to those in desperate need.