UN official describes situation in Gaza as ‘absolutely dire’ amid severe shortages
Having just returned from the Gaza Strip, Sigrid Kaag, the United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator in Gaza, spoke to journalists at the United Nations Headquarters in New York via video link from Jordan (► play video).
UN teams and partners are working to address the severe shortage of waste management and sanitation facilities, amid the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, she said.
While in Gaza, she also visited a mobile maternity unit run by the United Nations Population Fund (United Nations Population Fund) and the non-profit organization International Medical Corps.
“There are truly brave doctors and nurses working to ensure safe childbirth. as well as a high number of caesarean sections, but in extremely dire circumstances,” she said.
“And often, of course, newborns bring only temporary joy and relief to families. But we also know that many mothers extremely worried about the future and the world they are bringing their children into.“, she added.
Kaag also noted that doctors have reported an increase in miscarriage rates in the first and second trimesters, although the reasons are still unclear and this will be further studied by experts.
Urgent need
The UN senior humanitarian expert also said that the hospitals she visited also had children with serious, often chronic, illnesses that required medical evacuation (medevac) for treatment.
“Some of these children have been displaced four or five times within Gaza, each time in search of safety and medical shelter. I think we can hardly even imagine,” she said.
Ms. Kaag also outlined the critical needs for local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), particularly the safety and security of humanitarian organizations as well as the civilians they seek to assist.
She also called for more support for Palestinian NGOs, which despite suffering heavy losses continue to work to help those in need.
Humanitarian mechanism
Ms. Kaag also mentioned the mechanism to expedite humanitarian shipments to Gaza, which she is tasked with overseeing. Security Council 2720 resolution.
“It is working, it is collecting aid supplies from Jordan, Cyprus, the West Bank into Gaza,” she said, noting that negotiations are being finalized with Egypt and monitors are ready to deploy inside Gaza.
“But what We need an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.and of course continue to reach out to begin meeting the needs,” she stressed.
