“These developments are continuing to impede humanitarian access and worsen an already dire situation. At the same time, Hamas continues to fire rockets indiscriminately.” declare speak.
Emphasizing that civilians must always be respected and protected, Mr. Guterres noted that “for the people of Gaza, nowhere is safe right now.”
The Secretary-General reiterated his long-standing urgent call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
He also called for the immediate reopening of the Rafah border crossing and the facilitation of unimpeded humanitarian access across Gaza.
Concerns of displaced families
The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency says much of Rafah has become a “ghost town”. UNRWA reported on Tuesday. Some 450,000 people have left the area over the past week and was seeking shelter where possible, including in rubble and sand dunes.
In New York, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq speak Displaced families are arriving in places lacking shelters, toilets and water points.
“However, it is impossible to improve the situation at the evacuation sites if supplies cannot enter Gaza and if we lack fuel to transport them within Gaza to families who need them.” .
Preventing greater tragedy: UNICEF
A senior official of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said the escalation in Rafah and across Gaza has deepened the suffering of hundreds of thousands of boys and girls.
Adele Khodr, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said: “We cannot accept their plight being broadcast live as collateral damage in a conflict in which they never fought. now choose”. statement.
She echoed the Secretary-General’s call for the rapid opening of border crossings and the provision of safe humanitarian access so that aid can be delivered to children in Gaza.
“Failure to do so will lead to an even greater tragedy than what we have already seen, an outcome that we must urgently seek to avoid,” she warned.
Aid vehicles were attacked
Meanwhile, efforts to provide lifesaving assistance are underway amid insecurity and other obstacles.
United Nations humanitarian agency, OCHA, speak partners report that work continues to restore medical services at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, which is expected to officially reopen in the coming days.
The hospital began providing dialysis treatment last week to patients who could no longer be treated at An Najjar Hospital in Rafah, which had stopped providing the service.
OCHA also reported on Monday that Israeli settlers in the West Bank attacked aid trucks bound for Gaza.
“Settlers unloaded goods and vandalized vehicles at the Tarqumiya checkpoint and near the Beit ‘Awwa fence,” the agency said.
