Guterres ‘appalled’ over deep aid crisis as civilians face displacement, blockades in Gaza

By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN head Antonio Guterres on Sunday is “appalled” by the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as civilians face yet another wave of mass displacement with few safe places to go.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric in a statement issued in new York said that multiple attacks in recent days have killed and injured scores of Palestinians at sites hosting displaced people and others attempting to access essential supplies.

Mr. Dujarric said “The Secretary-General strongly condemns the loss of civilian life”.

He added that in just one day nearly 30,000 people were forced to flee under new Israeli relocation orders, with no safe place to go and clearly inadequate supplies of shelter, food, medicine or water.

Spokesman noted that with no fuel have entered Gaza in over 17 weeks, Mr. Guterres is also “gravely concerned that the last lifelines for survival are being cut off.”

“Without an urgent influx of fuel, incubators will shut down, ambulances will be unable to reach the injured and sick, and water cannot be purified,” Mr. Dujarric said.

He stressed that “The delivery by the United Nations and partners of what little of our lifesaving humanitarian aid is left in Gaza will also grind to a halt.”

Mr. Guterres in a statement reiterated his call for safe and sustained humanitarian access so aid can reach people in desperate need.

“The UN has a clear and proven plan, rooted in the humanitarian principles, to get vital assistance to civilians – safely and at scale, wherever they are,” Mr. Dujarric said.

Guterres reiterated his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups. He reminded all parties that international humanitarian law must be upheld, the statement said.

Israeli authorities issued a new evacuation order in parts of Gaza City, affected some 40,000 people and including a displacement site, a medical point and one of the few neighbourhoods that had remained untouched by such orders since before the March ceasefire.

UN spokesman’s office noted that since that ceasefire collapsed, over 50 such orders have been issued, now covering 78 per cent of Gaza’s territory.

Mr. Dujarric said “Add the Israeli-militarized zones and that percentage jumps to 85 leaving just 15 per cent where civilians can actually stay”.

Those areas are overcrowded and severely lacking in services or proper infrastructure, he added.

“Imagine having just over two million people in Manhattan which is actually slightly bigger but instead of buildings, the area is strewn with the rubble of demolished and bombed-out structures, without infrastructure or basic support,” Dujarric said.

He concluded “And in Gaza, these remaining areas are also fragmented and unsafe.”