After the violent terrorist attacks on southern Israel by Hamas and other groups on October 7th, followed by Israel’s military response in Gaza, over 75% of the population in the area have been forced to leave their homes, often more than once.

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), which is responsible for coordinating global humanitarian organizations, stated that there is a widespread lack of food, water, and sanitation. They also noted that the health system is being intentionally weakened, leading to disastrous outcomes.

In a statement released on Wednesday, it was noted that diseases are widespread, famine is approaching, water is scarce, basic infrastructure is destroyed, food production has ceased, hospitals are now battlegrounds, and one million children are experiencing daily traumas.

A devastating setback for humanitarian aid initiatives.

The state of affairs in Rafah, located in the southernmost part of Gaza, is especially critical.

According to the IASC leaders, Rafah has now become a new battleground in the ongoing conflict, with more than one million people who have been displaced, malnourished, and emotionally distressed forced to live in a small area.

They cautioned that an increase in violence in this heavily populated region could result in numerous casualties. It may also severely harm the already struggling humanitarian efforts.

Humanitarians at risk

The leaders of IASC emphasized the dangers that aid workers encounter on a daily basis while trying to assist those in dire need, acknowledging that they are limited in what they can accomplish.

According to them, despite being displaced and dealing with dangers such as shelling, death, and movement limitations, humanitarian workers are persistently working towards providing aid to those who require it.

“However, due to various challenges such as safety protocols and limited mobility, their efforts are limited.”

The essentials

The administrators emphasized that no level of humanitarian aid can fully compensate for the prolonged suffering experienced by families in Gaza.

They stated that this is their attempt to rescue the humanitarian mission in order to supply the most basic necessities, such as medicine, clean water, food, and shelter, as temperatures drop.

They emphasized the importance of 10 crucial components, including an immediate halt to hostilities, safeguarding of civilians and civilian facilities, prompt release of captives, dependable entry points for aid, guarantees of safety and unhindered access, a functional system for notifying about humanitarian efforts, removal of explosive hazards from roads, and a reliable means of communication.

Furthermore, they urged for the UN agency that aids Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) to receive necessary funding in order to provide critical aid. They also called for an end to efforts that aim to discredit the UN and NGOs who are working tirelessly to save lives.

The humanitarian leaders urged Israel to fulfill its legal duty, according to international laws regarding humanitarian aid and human rights, to supply food and medical resources and assist with aid efforts. They also called on global leaders to prevent a potential worsening of the situation.

Source: news.un.org