The UN chief on Tuesday
said levels of aid allowed into the stricken Gaza Strip
are “completely inadequate” to meet the rising needs of civilians
trapped there amidst the intensifying fighting.
Secretary-General António
Guterres also reiterated his call for an “immediate
humanitarian ceasefire” between Israeli forces and militants from
Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and other militant groups.
Consistent flow of aid essential
In a statement, Mr. Guterres said depriving Gaza’s people basic
supplies was only “compounding the human tragedy” of the
conflict, calling for unimpeded humanitarian access “to be
granted consistently, safely and to scale in order to meet the
urgent needs created by the catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.”
He said he was deeply alarmed” by the intensifying violence,
including the expansion of ground operations by the Israel
Defense Forces accompanied by further intense air strikes, and
the continued rocket fire towards Israel from Gaza.
“Civilians have borne the brunt of the current fighting from the
outset. Protection of civilians on both sides is paramount
and must be respected at all times”, he said.
The Hamas-run Ministry of Health reports that over 8,300 people
have been killed in Gaza since 7 October, including 3,547
children, 2,136 women and 480 elderly persons.
Latest figures
released by the UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) which has around
13,000 staff working in Gaza, put the extent of the humanitarian
crisis into stark relief.
670,000 internally displaced are sheltering in 150 UNRWA
installations.
“The situation in shelters remains critical with very limited
assistance available and no additional space”, said the agency,
with healthcare dwindling and protection risks rising.
UNRWA deaths mount
Furthermore, UNRWA itself lost a further three staff members in
the ongoing airstrikes during the past 24 hours – killed in their
houses along with their families, according to agency.
This brings the death toll to 67. Last night, UNRWA
chief Phillipe Lazzarini
said one of those lost just hours before
the Security Council met on
the crisis in New York, was Samir, head of security and safety
for the middle region of Gaza – killed along with his wife and
eight children.
“I mourn and honour the United Nations colleagues who have
tragically been killed in the bombardment of Gaza over the past
three weeks”, said the Secretary-General. “My heart goes out to
the families of our colleagues who lost their lives in service.”
Unconditional release of hostages
The UN chief repeated his “utter condemnation of the acts of
terror perpetrated by Hamas” on 7 October.
“There is never any justification for the killing, injuring and
abduction of civilians. I appeal for the immediate and
unconditional release of those civilians held hostage by Hamas”,
he said.
Mr. Guterres stressed again that international humanitarian law
“establishes clear rules that cannot be ignored. It is not
an a la carte menu and cannot be applied selectively.”
All parties must abide by the rules, “including the principles of
distinction, proportionality, and precaution.”
Looking to the dangers of spillover across borders into Lebanon
and Syria, the UN chief said he remained “deeply concerned about
the risk of a dangerous escalation”, urging all leaders in the
region to exercise utmost restraint.
