William Schomburg, head of the Gaza branch of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), says there are no words to describe the level of desperation throughout the Gaza Strip with Palestinians struggling to find food, water, and healthcare to survive.

“Bringing things into Gaza is extremely complicated and it’s made worse by the continuing breakdown of law and order, which is hampering our ability to deliver assistance to those who need it most,” Schomburg told Al Jazeera from Rafah, where the ICRC operates a field hospital.

He urged that humanitarian relief be allowed into Gaza “unimpeded” — and immediately. Schomburg added that civilians are in “desperate need” of clean water and sanitation services.

“We are trying to revitalise ‘collective kitchens’ that we operated in Rafah until hostilities no longer enabled them to function,” Schomburg said. “But the conditions are extremely difficult to operate in.”