Situation in Northern Gaza 'apocalyptic': UN agency chiefs
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The UN's top agency heads issued a joint statement demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities and unhindered access for humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.
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Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on November 1, 2024 (Photo by AFP)
The United Nations issued an urgent warning on Friday, describing the humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza as "apocalyptic" and stating that the entire population is at imminent risk of death from disease, famine, and ongoing violence.
The UN's top agency heads, representing humanitarian, health, refugee, and children's organizations, issued a joint statement demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities and unhindered access for humanitarian aid to the besieged region.
"The situation unfolding in North Gaza is apocalyptic," the statement read, adding that over the past month, Gaza has been under siege, cut off from life-saving supplies and basic aid amidst continuous bombardment.
“The situation unfolding in North Gaza is apocalyptic.”
— United Nations (@UN) November 1, 2024
UN & civil society leaders urge Israel to cease its assault on Gaza and on the humanitarians trying to help.
They reiterate their call to everyone fighting to protect civilians.https://t.co/kLPkhiM87a pic.twitter.com/DhgKU6iP5i
"The needs of women and girls are overwhelming and growing every day. We have lost contact with those we support and those who provide lifesaving essential services for sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence," the statement read.
"And we have received reports of civilians being targeted while trying to seek safety, and of men and boys being arrested and taken to unknown locations for detention," the statement added.
In recent days, "Israel" has been intensifying its aggression on the Strip, resulting in hundreds of martyrs and injured, especially in the North.
The UN has been urging "Israel" to halt its assault and facilitate safe passage for humanitarian workers, but to no avail.
"Humanitarian aid cannot keep up with the scale of the needs," the UN leaders noted, citing severe constraints on access and ongoing threats to aid workers in the field.
Read more: Day 392 of Israeli genocide in Gaza: 43,259 killed, 101827 injured
The agency chiefs stressed that hospitals should be protected and not turn into battlegrounds, warning that the entire Middle East is on the brink of a major crisis.
They called for a sustained, unconditional ceasefire, noting that the situation in Gaza requires an immediate international response.
UN-verified data from the Gaza health ministry reports that "Israel's" war has resulted in over 43,000 martyrs so far, with most being women and children.
The UN chiefs stressed that without an urgent resolution, the humanitarian toll will continue to climb, leaving the region's stability in jeopardy.
UN official urges states to halt arms to 'Israel'
Ben Saul, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in counter-terrorism, denounced Monday "Israel's" military actions in Gaza, urging states to end their weapons provisions to the occupation regime due to violations of humanitarian law.
During a news conference in New York, Saul emphasized "a pattern of deliberate indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks harming large numbers of civilians" by the Israeli occupation forces.
He pointed to "Israel's" use of "high explosive munitions in densely populated areas, which by nature cannot distinguish between civilians and military targets," as well as its use of famine and denial of food relief as "weapons of war."
Citing concerns over "Israel's" violations of international standards, Saul renewed his appeal "on all States not to provide weapons or munitions to Israel, because that would breach the obligation of other states to ensure respect for humanitarian law."
He also voiced dissatisfaction with "Israel's" failure to heed repeated demands from international organizations to follow humanitarian law.
