UN officials demand end to Gaza atrocities
Top United Nations officials demanded on September 24th “an end to the appalling human suffering and humanitarian catastrophe” in the Gaza Strip, nearly a year into the war between Israel and Hamas, as reported by Middle East Online and agencies.
UN officials further highlighted the risk of famine, warning that all 2.1 million Gaza residents remain in desperate need of food and livelihood assistance due to severe restrictions on humanitarian access. Healthcare, they noted, has also been severely impacted, with more than 500 attacks on health facilities recorded in Gaza.
The UN has long voiced concerns about the significant barriers to delivering aid in Gaza, compounded by “total lawlessness” in the heavily besieged Palestinian territory. Throughout the war, nearly 300 humanitarian workers have been killed, with more than two-thirds of them being UN personnel.
Read: US military says “no more need” to use offshore Gaza aid pier
“Humanitarians must be granted safe and unhindered access to those in need,” stressed the UN officials in a joint statement signed by leaders of UN agencies like UNICEF and the World Food Programme, along with other humanitarian organizations. “We cannot do our jobs in the face of overwhelming need and ongoing violence.” This appeal came as world leaders convened in New York for the annual UN General Assembly.
Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom announced a joint effort to draft a declaration to protect humanitarian workers, urging all nations to endorse the initiative.
“2024 is on track to be the deadliest year for aid workers on record,” remarked Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. She noted that Australia was particularly affected by the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) strike on World Central Kitchen vehicles in April, which resulted in the deaths of Australian Zomi Frankcom and her colleagues.
Read: First international UN employee killed in Israeli strike
“Gaza is the deadliest place on earth for aid workers,” Wong said.
The Israeli military has since apologized for the incident, dismissing two senior commanders involved in the strikes and reprimanding three others. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled the strikes as unintended and tragic.
Middle East Online and agencies
