Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) Representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, reported that WHO and its partners were able to successfully reach (Al) Shifa Hospital in the northern region. They provided essential fuel, life-saving resources for 150 patients, and treatment for 50 children with severe acute malnutrition. Additionally, they were able to deliver vaccines to the hospital.

On October 7th, the WHO mission successfully arrived at Kamal Adwan Hospital, located in the northern region.

According to Dr. Peeperkorn, the paediatric unit at the facility has been “overwhelmed with patients” and has also been the location where 10 children have tragically passed away due to starvation and dehydration in recent days.

He urgently pleaded for consistent humanitarian support, stating that the state of Al-Awda Hospital was especially distressing. The medic from the WHO emphasized the importance of the deconfliction mechanism in ensuring aid reaches those in need, citing the protocol of alerting combatants of aid sites beforehand.

Obstructions

Per Dr. Peeperkorn, the majority of the United Nations’ health agency’s trips to the northern region were rejected in January. Only three out of 16 were authorized, while four were hindered and nine were declined. Dr. Peeperkorn informed reporters in Geneva that no trips were aided in February.

While the northern region of Gaza has the greatest need, there is also a high demand for humanitarian aid throughout the entire Gaza Strip due to the effects of a five-month-long conflict. This has led to 1.5 million individuals seeking refuge in the southern governorate of Rafah.

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Dr. Peeperkorn emphasized that in Gaza, malnutrition, especially in young children, was not a serious concern before, as the region was able to produce enough food, including fish, to sustain itself. However, the current situation has drastically changed.

Prior to the recent conflicts, the occurrence of wasting in the Gaza Strip was uncommon, with only 0.8% of children under the age of five being severely malnourished. However, the current rate of 15.6% of children under the age of two suffering from wasting in northern Gaza indicates a significant and rapid deterioration. This kind of decline in a population’s nutritional well-being within a span of three months is unprecedented worldwide.

According to a WHO representative, there is a significant issue with 90% of children under the age of two and 95% of pregnant and breastfeeding women facing extreme food deprivation. This means that they only consume two or fewer food groups in a day, and the quality of the food they do have access to is very poor in terms of nutrition.

Airdrop option discounted

The Gaza Strip has seen humanitarian airdrops as a response to the limited amount of aid that is able to reach the area by land. The United Nations has not yet been involved in these missions, but the aid coordination office, OCHA, has stated that these options are being considered. On Tuesday, they also confirmed their commitment to finding ways to provide aid to those who require it.

“The main objective is to increase the capacity of overland transportation to meet the significant demands that have been reported,” stated Jens Laerke, spokesperson for OCHA.

“If, as our colleagues inform us, children are beginning to succumb to starvation, this should serve as a clear warning. If not now, when is the appropriate time to take decisive action, shatter barriers, and provide Gaza with the necessary aid?”

According to Mr. Laerke, prior to the recent escalation in Gaza, approximately 500 trucks entered the area every day. However, in recent months and days, the number has only reached 133 per day.

“We continue to engage with the authorities and everyone involved who can help us get those openings so that we can get aid in at scale. But currently we do not have (permissions to enter).”

Much more severe than the Second World War.

The UN Human Rights Council discussed on Tuesday that a significant portion, potentially 80%, of housing in northern Gaza has suffered destruction or damage due to the Israeli counterstrike against terror attacks by Hamas on October 7 in Israel.

The Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, stated that the destruction of housing has eradicated all the components that make it adequate, such as access to services, jobs, culture, schools, religious places, universities, and hospitals. This level of devastation is greater than what was seen in Aleppo, Mariupol, or even Dresden and Rotterdam during World War Two.

members are chosen by ECOSOC.

The impartial rights consultant, who is not employed by the United Nations, was presenting his required report to the Council composed of 55 members appointed by ECOSOC.^th

A session is currently taking place in Geneva.

Flour killings outrage 

Last week, a group of at least 112 people were killed while collecting flour in the southwest area of Gaza City. This action was condemned by independent experts appointed by the UN on Tuesday.

The incident known as the “flour massacre”, in which Israeli forces were involved and 760 people were injured, received extensive international criticism and a request for an inquiry from UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

“The human rights experts stated that Israel has deliberately withheld food and resources from the Palestinian population in Gaza since October 8th…They are calling on Israel to cease this practice of starving and attacking innocent civilians.”

According to a statement from experts, including Michael Fakhri, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, the recent attack occurred following a month-long blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza City and northern Gaza by Israel.

The International Court of Justice issued a ruling on January 26, urging Israel to permit the delivery of essential services and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. However, between February 9 and 21, only 57 trucks were allowed to enter Gaza, according to reports.

“Israel systematically denies and restricts the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza by intercepting deliveries at checkpoints, bombing humanitarian convoys and shooting at civilians seeking humanitarian assistance.”

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