New york: The UN Secretary-General is appalled by the accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where the last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing and deplores the growing reports of children and adults suffering from malnutrition. His Spokesperson St©phane Dujarric was speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York a day after dozens of Palestinians were killed seeking food aid.
According to Emirates News Agency, Ant³nio Guterres strongly condemned the ongoing violence, including the shooting, killing, and injuring of people attempting to get food for their families. He emphasized that civilians must be protected and respected, and they must never be targeted. The population in Gaza remains gravely undersupplied with the necessities of life. Guterres stated that Israel has the obligation to allow and facilitate by all the means at its disposal the humanitarian relief provided by the United Nations and by other humanitarian organizations.
The Secretary-General noted that the intensification of hostilities in recent days comes as the humanitarian system is being impeded, undermined, and endangered. A new evacuation order in parts of Deir al Balah, home to tens of thousands, pushes people into more desperate conditions and further displacement and restricts the United Nations' ability to deliver life-saving aid. UN staff remain in Deir al Balah, and two UN guesthouses have been struck, despite parties having been informed of the locations of UN premises, which are inviolable. These locations, as with all civilian sites, must be protected, regardless of evacuation orders.
The Secretary-General reiterated his urgent call for the protection of civilians, including humanitarian personnel, and for the provision of essential resources to ensure their survival. He once again called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The UN stands ready to significantly scale up humanitarian operations, and Guterres concluded by stating that the time for a ceasefire is now.