Categories: World

World must act with urgency to save Palestinians in Gaza, top UN top officials say

Statement by heads of OCHA, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNRWA, WFP and WHO

For over a month, no commercial or humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza. 

More than 2.1 million people are trapped, bombed and starved again, while, at crossing points, food, medicine, fuel and shelter supplies are piling up, and vital equipment is stuck. 

Over 1,000 children have reportedly been killed or injured in just the first week after the breakdown of the ceasefire, the highest one-week death toll among children in Gaza in the past year.

Just a few days ago, the 25 bakeries supported by the World Food Programme during the ceasefire had to close due to flour and cooking gas shortages.

The partially functional health system is overwhelmed. Essential medical and trauma supplies are rapidly running out, threatening to reverse hard-won progress in keeping the health system operational.

The latest ceasefire allowed us to achieve in 60 days what bombs, obstruction and lootings prevented us from doing in 470 days of war: life-saving supplies reaching nearly every part of Gaza.

While this offered a short respite, assertions that there is now enough food to feed all Palestinians in Gaza are far from the reality on the ground, and commodities are running extremely low.

We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life.

New Israeli displacement orders have forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee yet again, with no safe place to go. 

No one is safe. At least 408 humanitarian workers, including over 280 from UNRWA, have been killed since October 2023.

With the tightened Israeli blockade on Gaza now in its second month, we appeal to world leaders to act – firmly, urgently and decisively – to ensure the basic principles of international humanitarian law are upheld. 

Protect civilians. Facilitate aid. Release hostages. Renew a ceasefire.

Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF

Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director, UNOPS

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, UNRWA

Cindy McCain, Executive Director, WFP

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO

 

R

Leave a Comment
Share
Published by
R

Recent Posts

Happening in Egypt: A ‘public altercation’ between two state officials in front of the cameras! (Video)

In an unprecedented incident, a public dispute between two officials in the Egyptian government was…

16 heures ago

Mezzouna High School Principal Taken into Police Custody for Manslaughter

In a statement to National Radio, Jawhar Gabsi, spokesperson for the Sidi Bouzid Court of…

16 heures ago

Next round of US-Iran talks to be held in Rome

The second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iranian delegations will take place in…

16 heures ago

US may close 30 embassies, consulates worldwide

The United States administration is considering the closure of nearly 30 foreign embassies and consulates…

22 heures ago

Mezzouna tragedy: Director General of Health visits Sfax to monitor condition of injured [Video]

As part of the ongoing monitoring of the health condition of the two students wounded…

22 heures ago

Sidi Bouzid: Earthquake in Menzel Bouzaiane

In an update on the country's seismic activity, the INM's seismological stations registered a tremor…

22 heures ago

This website uses cookies.