According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Gaza has turned into a dangerous area where lives are at risk. He shared this information with reporters during a press conference in Geneva.

“Large portions of the land have been devastated. The death toll exceeds 29,000, with numerous people still unaccounted for and presumed deceased. Furthermore, countless others have sustained injuries,” he stated.

In the Gaza Strip, which has been heavily impacted by war, there has been a significant increase in severe malnutrition since the war began on October 7th. The percentage of the population affected has risen from less than one percent to over 15 percent in certain regions.

Tedros expressed grave concern that the longer the war continues and supplies are disrupted, this statistic will continue to increase. He highlighted the issue of agencies like the World Food Programme (WFP) being unable to reach the northern region.

The WFP stopped providing aid in that area because of insufficient security for both staff and individuals in need of help.

Medical charity attacked

The conflict has had a devastating impact on humanitarian workers, resulting in hundreds of reported deaths.

A shelter operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was bombed on Tuesday evening (local time), resulting in injuries to staff and fatalities among their family members.

“I was shocked by the attack,” stated Martin Griffiths, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator. He expressed his solidarity with those affected by the tragedy.

“He stated on X (formerly known as Twitter) that humanitarians are risking their lives and, like all civilians, should be safeguarded.”

What is the world we exist in?

The Director-General of WHO, Tedros, restated the serious dangers faced by humanitarian workers and emphasized the importance of safeguarding their well-being.

“He expressed sorrow at the state of our world where individuals struggle to access basic necessities such as food and water, and where those who are physically unable to walk are denied proper care.”

What kind of society do we inhabit where medical professionals are in danger of bombing while performing their crucial duties and hospitals are forced to shut down due to lack of resources and supplies to treat patients in need?

He emphasized the importance of a prompt ceasefire, the release of hostages, the cessation of gun violence, and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid.

Tedros stated that humanity must triumph.

Hospital evacuations

In the last three days, the United Nations’ health organization and its collaborators conducted multiple urgent operations at the Nasser medical complex in Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza. Their goal was to transport severely ill individuals, including young children, to safety.

Tedros stated that due to the malfunctioning intensive care units, the World Health Organization assisted in relocating patients, many of whom are unable to ambulate.

Currently, approximately 130 ill and wounded individuals, along with a minimum of 15 physicians and nurses, are still located in the medical facility. This is occurring in the midst of continued military actions by Israel, without access to electricity or running water, and with limited availability of crucial medical resources.

Implement long-awaited actions.

In addition, on Wednesday, a group of UN experts on human rights urged Israel to swiftly enact a ceasefire and take tangible steps to address humanitarian concerns, especially for Palestinian females.

Referring to the decision made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on January 26th, the specialists emphasized the urgent problems of interrupted education, demolished houses, restricted healthcare access, and increased vulnerabilities experienced by females in Gaza and the West Bank, such as gender-based violence.

The specialists called for an immediate halt to the Israeli military’s assault on hospitals, as access to treatment becomes more restricted. They stressed the importance of implementing measures that are sensitive to gender and address the pressing needs of those who are vulnerable.

The request was for a field hospital to be set up, aid to be delivered more easily, menstrual hygiene products to be given priority, more shelters and schools to be built, and safe spaces to be provided for survivors of gender-based violence.

According to them, enacting these actions would finally show that Israel values safeguarding civilians and upholds their rights as human beings.

Designated by the United Nations Human Rights Council to oversee critical matters concerning human rights, these specialists operate separately from the UN and any governing body. They serve in their own personal capacities and do not receive compensation for their efforts.

Source: news.un.org