On Thursday, Jamie McGoldrick, the leading aid representative for the UN in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, visited the Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahia. The hospital has a new specialized feeding center, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), for treating children with the most severe and life-threatening cases of hunger.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that without prompt care, these children face a high chance of dying. They called on all groups involved in the conflict to adhere to the laws of war and international humanitarian laws. The UN agency emphasized the importance of safeguarding civilians and crucial resources, such as hospitals.

Fuel and medical supplies were delivered to Kamal Adwan hospital, “but aid is just a trickle”, said the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. “Food needs to reach the north NOW to avert famine,” it said in a post on X. 

According to media sources, the Israeli military has been conducting a series of raids at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City for five consecutive days.

According to OCHA, Al Shifa, the biggest healthcare facility in Gaza, has recently resumed limited services due to damages from nearby fighting. The ongoing hostilities have endangered patients, healthcare workers, and access to treatment.

The civilian population in Gaza, especially in the northern region, is facing extremely high rates of illness and starvation. OCHA emphasized that we and our humanitarian collaborators are constantly working to address the immense needs of the people.

Aid access woes

During a video about X, Georgios Petropoulos, the Head of Sub-Office in Gaza for OCHA, emphasized the challenges of delivering food and medical resources to northern Gaza due to ongoing limitations on aid.

To travel from the southern to the northern region, relief teams must cross Israeli checkpoints within the Strip, which divides it into two parts.

“The main issue in Gaza is the difficulty in traveling between the northern and southern regions,” Mr. Petropoulos stated. He recounted encountering an elderly man, who was 75-80 years old and alone, covered in dust and sitting in the middle of the road, during a recent mission. “We assisted him by giving him water and transporting him a short distance in our car until we found a family on the street.”

According to Mr. Petropoulos, we are urging everyone to show consideration for civilians attempting to escape from war.

In agreement with the statement, OCHA restated that relief groups are constantly being hindered from carrying out our duties, particularly in the isolated northern regions.

The United Nations aid coordination office stressed that the ongoing violence, constant bombings, and breakdown of civil order, along with restricted access, are hindering humanitarian efforts.

“As the ongoing conflict reaches its sixth month and the situation in Gaza deteriorates to the point of famine, it is imperative that we provide Gaza with an influx of aid.”

The focus is on the Security Council.

On Friday, the UN Security Council was set to convene in order to vote on a resolution proposed by the United States, which emphasizes the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution also calls for the release of any remaining hostages and for crucial humanitarian aid to be provided.

In the past, representatives from the United States have prevented the approval of a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the 15-member organization, which is responsible for upholding global peace and security.

Amid mounting global demands for a peaceful halt to the violence in Gaza and increased efforts to provide aid access to regions in the north, where experts have cautioned about the imminent threat of famine, a new development has emerged.

Before the 9am UN Security Council meeting in New York, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the newest version of the resolution includes a plea for “a prompt halt to hostilities linked to the liberation of captives.”

US diplomatic push

The United States’ highest-ranking diplomat delivered remarks in Egypt during his most recent trip to the Middle East, where indirect talks are ongoing between Israel and Hamas with the mediation of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. Secretary Blinken expressed optimism that a deal could be reached.

According to reports, the United States is still working towards constructing a landing pontoon in order to provide aid to Gaza via sea. A senior American official stated that the construction may be completed before May 1st.

The office for human rights has called for an end to the assaults on aid storage facilities in Gaza.

On Friday, the OHCHR (UN human rights office) expressed concern over the recent occurrence of attacks in Gaza targeting aid warehouses and security personnel safeguarding the delivery of humanitarian aid, including police officers.

According to a statement from OHCHR, three aid facilities, located in Rafah, Nuseirat, and Jabalya, were targeted between March 13 and 19. The incidents resulted in fatalities at each location.

Four high-ranking police officers, including the An Nuseirat Police director, were killed on March 19th.

According to publicly available information, there have been at least three other instances where either police vehicles or security personnel accompanying aid trucks have been hit since the beginning of February.

OHCHR pointed out that engaging in violence against civilians who are not directly participating in warfare could constitute a violation of international law. The police and other law enforcement personnel should be protected from attack and not be deliberately targeted.

The OHCHR stated that these attacks have also led to the disintegration of civil order, leading to a state of increasing disorder. In this chaos, the ones who are most able, often young men, are able to control the limited aid and make it even harder for the most vulnerable to obtain food and other necessities.

According to OHCHR, it is the responsibility of Israel, as the occupying force, to ensure that the population has access to necessary food and medical assistance. Furthermore, it must prioritize the safety and dignity of humanitarian workers as they carry out their duties.

Source: news.un.org