World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom says a mission of UN agencies visited hospitals in northern Gaza where they witnessed dire food shortages.

“The search for food is forcing people into horrible states of hunger and leading some — out of desperation — to take supplies from delivery trucks, as occurred during the joint mission,” he wrote on X.

“Sustained humanitarian access is essential for humanitarians to deliver food, water, fuel, medicines, and other supplies safely, and continuously, to over 2 million people. But such guaranteed, ongoing, safe access has not yet been put in place,” the WHO chief regretted.

He said the WHO and other UN partners demand an immediate scale-up of food and water to ensure population health and stability.