The heads of UN agencies say they cannot do their job ‘in the face of great need and ongoing violence’.
Top United Nations officials have called for an “end to the appalling human suffering and humanitarian crisis” in the Gaza Strip nearly a year into the war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
“These atrocities must end,” they said on Monday in a statement signed by the heads of UN organizations including the World Food Program and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other aid organizations as world leaders gathered in New York at the annual meeting. The UN General Assembly.
“People helping people must have safe and unhindered access to those in need,” they said. “We can’t do our job because of the high demand and ongoing violence.”
The UN has long complained about obstacles to getting aid to Gaza during the war and distributing it amid “total lawlessness” in the besieged Palestinian territory. About 300 aid workers, more than two-thirds of whom are UN staff, have been killed.
“The risk of famine continues as all 2.1 million civilians are still in need of food and livelihood assistance as access to humanitarian aid remains restricted,” UN officials said.
“Health has decreased. More than 500 health attacks have been recorded in Gaza. “
At least 24 people were killed and 60 injured during the attack by Israeli forces in a 24-hour period, the Ministry of Health in the area said in a statement on Monday.
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Deir el-Balah, in central Gaza, said the escalating situation in Gaza was “the result of a heavy bombing campaign”.
He added: “It is difficult to look at this war because, from the beginning, it has been one-sided, ruled by the Israeli army, but we see it every day.”
The war in the Palestinian territories began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas fighters raided Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages back to Hamas-run Gaza, according to Israeli figures.
Since then, Israel’s military has leveled dozens of Palestinian territories, killing more than 41,400 people, driving nearly all of its inhabitants from their homes, and causing famine and deadly disease, according to Palestinian health authorities.