US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has acknowledged that the humanitarian situation is “dire” in Gaza as Israel pushes in deeper, despite US efforts to bring in more assistance, AFP reports.

“The humanitarian situation remains dire for people in Gaza,” Blinken told reporters in Prague when asked about Power’s remarks.

“We’ve seen changes — some positive changes — but the net effect is not there,” he said.

Blinken added that while the number of aid trucks entering Gaza was up “significantly”, distribution remained difficult.

He pointed to the impact of Israeli military operations around the crowded southern Gaza city of Rafah and the closure of the Rafah border into Egypt after Israel seized control of the crossing from Hamas.

“We’re not just measuring inputs, we’re measuring impact. And yes, the impact remains insufficient in terms of addressing the acute needs of children, women and men in Gaza,” Blinken said.