Gaza: UN Warns Escalation Risks Starvation, Mass Displacement, & Unprecedented Human Suffering | UN

Briefing by Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of Coordination, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question - Security Council, 9975th meeting. "Mr. President, The suffering endured by Palestinians and Israelis over the past 22 months has been nothing short of soul-searing. Our shared humanity demands that this catastrophe is brought to an immediate end. Mr. President, I will address three matters today: First, I am extremely concerned over the prolonged conflict and further human toll that is likely to unfold following the Government of Israel’s decision to expand military operations in Gaza. This marks a grave escalation in a conflict that has already inflicted unimaginable suffering. For over 670 days, Palestinians in Gaza have endured daily killings and injuries. More than 61,000 people have been killed, including over 18,000 children, and 151,000 have been injured, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, 50 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza – with those still alive held in unthinkably inhumane and appalling conditions. Thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, remain in Israeli detention – many held without charge or trial, or the required safeguards. A grim milestone has also been crossed in the humanitarian community: Over 500 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza since hostilities escalated, including at least 167 women. Smear campaigns against aid operations continue unabated. As we approach World Humanitarian Day, we must insist on the protection of all aid workers. Mr. President, Second, humanitarian conditions are beyond horrific. We have frankly run out of words to describe it. Whatever lifelines remain are collapsing under the weight of sustained hostilities, forced displacement and insufficient levels of life-saving aid. Hunger-related deaths are rising, especially among children with severe malnutrition. Since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, the health authorities in Gaza have documented the deaths of 98 children from severe acute malnutrition – 37 since 1 July. This is no longer a looming hunger crisis – this is starvation. Each day brings harrowing images of men, women and children killed and injured while desperately seeking assistance. The situation is untenable, especially for older people, people with disabilities, children without parental care, and widowed women. Gaza lies in ruins. Almost everyone in Gaza has been forcibly displaced at some point over the past two years. Palestinians in Gaza have been forced into an area that amounts to less than 14 per cent of the territory, in areas that are not safe and are lacking basic services or shelter. Further expansion of military operations will make these conditions even worse. Families in Gaza are living in insecure, overcrowded conditions, many without shelter. Eleven per cent of some 6,500 households surveyed recently by humanitarian partners were reported to be living out in the open. No organization – UN or otherwise – has been able to bring shelter supplies into Gaza since 2 March. The lack of adequate shelter is particularly worrisome as we know that winter is soon upon us. Given the scale of repeated displacement and current living conditions, preventing the entry of emergency shelter supplies defies the obligation to allow humanitarian relief for the population in need. The health system effectively is collapsed. Hospitals are not protected, doctors have been killed or detained, and facilities are working without sufficient medical supplies. Water and sanitation infrastructure are failing, and social cohesion is unraveling. How are the people in Gaza expected to survive in these conditions? Mr. President, My third point: The recent military ‘tactical pauses’ have enabled some positive changes in humanitarian operations. Limited amounts of fuel have been allowed in, and on 5 August, Israeli authorities approved a mechanism for the gradual resumption of controlled commercial goods into Gaza. This has resulted in different types of food returning to markets and a slight decrease in some prices. Our teams on the ground caution us that despite these developments, meaningful change for the population remains elusive, as humanitarian conditions remain largely unchanged" (...). [Excerpt] For all UN official languages, please visit: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1v/k1vogrf1bv


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