GENEVA, 24 Oct. - (ANA) - The World Health Organisation said on Thursday there had been little improvement in the amount of aid going into Gaza since a ceasefire took hold - and no observable reduction in hunger.

 

"The situation still remains catastrophic because what's entering is not enough," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an online press briefing from the UN health agency's Geneva headquarters.

 

Since the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on October 10, there has been "no dent in hunger, because there is not enough food", he warned.

 

Israel repeatedly cut off aid to the Gaza Strip during the war, exacerbating dire humanitarian conditions. The United Nations stated that it contributed to a famine in parts of the Palestinian territory.

 

Since the start of 2025, 411 people are known to have died from the effects of malnutrition in Gaza, including 109 children, Richard Peeperkorn, the WHO's representative in the Palestinian territories, told reporters.

 

Meanwhile, the United States continues to press Israel to uphold the terms of the agreement, with senior diplomat Marco Rubio the latest to visit the country.

 

In recent days, a series of other high-ranking US officials have travelled to Israel- including special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner on Monday, followed by Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday.

 

During his visit, Rubio said that "good progress" was being made on the US-led Gaza plan, but acknowledged that more work was still needed.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/24 October 2025 - - -