The UN humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory warned this Monday that an “even more hellish” scenario is about to unfold in Gaza, with the “classic formula” of epidemics and public health disaster.
In a statement, Lynn Hastings, who saw Israel refuse to renew her visa last week, admitted that there were no conditions for providing aid to the people of Gaza and that humanitarian operations may not be able to respond to the looming scenario.
“Since the resumption of hostilities in Gaza on December 1, 700 Palestinians have been killed, in addition to the 15,500 deaths already recorded. Israeli military operations have expanded into southern Gaza, forcing tens of thousands of other people to enter in increasingly compressed and desperate spaces to find food, water, shelter and safety,” he explained, adding that “nowhere is safe in Gaza and there is nowhere else to go.”
According to the humanitarian coordinator, the shelters are without capacity, the health system is “on its knees”, there is a lack of drinking water and adequate sanitation in Gaza, in addition to poor nutrition for people who are already mentally and physically exhausted. with the “classic formula for epidemics and public health disasters.”
Hastings stressed that the amounts of aid and fuel allowed to enter the enclave are “totally insufficient”, also arguing that the exclusive use of the Rafah crossing – intended for pedestrians – to bring in goods trucks “does not work.”
“Humanitarian operations cannot be maintained with drip fuel. It is the basis of social services and our operations, including hospitals, desalination plants, drinking water and sanitation,” he reinforced.
Hastings also argued that the commercial and public sectors should be allowed to bring goods into Gaza to replenish markets.
Furthermore, announcements about the creation of so-called safe zones and tent cities without guarantees that people can move freely and that assistance can be provided when necessary “are alarming,” he considered.
“These areas cannot be safe or humanitarian when declared unilaterally. The UN stands ready to work with all parties to expand the number of safe havens managed by the UN and provide assistance where necessary,” he added.
Israel informed the United Nations last week that it will not renew the visa of its humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, previously accused of not being “impartial.”
Canadian Lynn Hastings was appointed in December 2020 by the Secretary General, António Guterres, UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories and deputy to the Middle East envoy, Tor Wennesland.
“The Israeli authorities have informed us that they will not renew the visa. [Lynn] Hastings after it expires at the end of this month,” Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for António Guterres, declared on Friday, without specifying whether the person in charge, based in Jerusalem, will be replaced or if she will continue her work from another location.
He only guaranteed that the Canadian continues to have the “full confidence” of the secretary general.
In late October, the Israeli Foreign Ministry attacked Lynn Hastings, mentioning her name on the social network X and accusing her of not being “impartial” or “objective.”
In addition to Hastings, António Guterres also said today that he was “extremely alarmed” by the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, and called on Israeli forces to avoid actions that would worsen the “already catastrophic” humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Israel’s bombing and new evacuation orders are putting pressure on Palestinians to “concentrate on less than a third” of the Gaza Strip, where nearly 1.9 million people have been displaced since the start of the war, Israel said today. OOPS).
“The evacuation order forces people to concentrate on what represents less than a third of the Gaza Strip. They need everything: food, water, shelter and, above all, safety. The roads to the south are congested,” said the head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini in a speech.
Source: TSF
