Gaza: As the Israeli occupation's tightened blockade of the Gaza Strip continues for a second month, six senior UN officials appealed to world leaders to act strongly, swiftly, and decisively to ensure respect for the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law. They stressed the need to protect civilians, facilitate aid delivery, release hostages, and renew the ceasefire.
According to Qatar News Agency, in a joint statement, UN officials warned that no commercial or humanitarian supplies have entered the Gaza Strip for more than a month. They said that more than 2.1 million people are trapped, bombarded, and starved once again, while food, medicine, fuel, shelter supplies, and vital equipment are piling up at crossing points.
They noted that the partially functioning health system is under immense pressure, and essential medical and trauma supplies are rapidly running out, threatening to reverse hard-won progress in keeping the health system running.
UN officials said that thanks to the recent ceasefire, "within 60 days, we have been able to deliver vital supplies to most parts of Gaza." While this has provided a brief respite, assurances that there is now enough food to feed all Palestinians in Gaza are far from the reality on the ground, the UN officials said, and stocks are running severely low. They added: "In Gaza, we are witnessing acts of war that demonstrate a complete disregard for human life." UN officials explained that the new Israeli displacement orders have forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee once again, with nowhere safe to go. "No one is safe. At least 408 humanitarian workers, including more than 280 from UNRWA, have been killed since October 2023." The officials who issued the statement are: Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher; Executive Director of UNICEF, Catherine Russell; Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, Jorge Moreira da Silva; Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini; Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Cindy McCain; and Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.