Humanitarian operations in the besieged Gaza Strip continue to be undermined by "significant obstructive factors", an EU official told Reuters Thursday following an update from the bloc's foreign policy and humanitarian arms. The official described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as very severe.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to be very severe, an EU official told Reuters after the EU's foreign policy and humanitarian arms updated member countries late on Wednesday on the status ofan agreement reached with Israellast month on boosting humanitarian access to Gaza.

The official said on Thursday that there were some positive developments regarding fuel delivery, the reopening of some routes, and an upward trend in the number of daily trucks entering the enclave and the repair of some vital infrastructure.

However, the official added that "significant obstructive factors continue to undermine humanitarian operations and aid delivery to Gaza, notably the lack of a safe operating environment to allow the distribution of aid at scale".

Israelenforced a complete blockade on food and other supplies for two-and-a-half months beginning in March. Though the flow of aid resumed in May under mounting international outrage, the amount that Israel is letting into the besieged territory is a fraction of what aid organisations say is needed.

TheUNhas warned that a famine is unfolding in the besieged territory, which is home to more than two million Palestinians.

At least 38 Palestinianswere killed on Wednesdayin theGaza Stripwhile seeking aid from United Nations convoys and sites run by Israeli-backed American contractor Global Humanitarian Foundation, according to local health officials.

Another 25 people, including several women and children, were killed in Israeli air strikes, according to local hospitals in Gaza. The military maintains that it only targetsHamasmilitants.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters and AP)

Originally published on France24