Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency responsible for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), wrote a letter to Dennis Francis, the President of the UN General Assembly, expressing concern about the agency’s ability to fulfill its mandate in Gaza. Lazzarini stated that UNRWA’s capacity to provide humanitarian aid to over 2.2 million people in Gaza is greatly hindered and that the main channel for this assistance is in danger of failing.

“Our employees are still working at health facilities, overseeing shelters, and aiding individuals who have experienced trauma. Some have even arrived carrying their deceased children,” he stated. However, the majority of them are also displaced and in need of basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter.

Up to this point, 130 UNRWA employees have lost their lives in Gaza during the recent increase in violence.

“In my 35 years of experience dealing with complicated crises, I have never had to compose a letter like this – one that foresees the potential harm to my colleagues and the failure of my assigned duty,” stated Mr. Lazzarini. He urged the General Assembly to promptly enforce a humanitarian ceasefire, ensure the safety of civilians and United Nations personnel and facilities, and preserve the potential for a political resolution that is crucial for the well-being, security, and rights of Palestinians, Israelis, and the surrounding area.

‘Beyond belief’

According to Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson for the UN health agency WHO, the population of Gaza is facing a terrible situation due to Israel’s harsh actions against them in response to Hamas’ terrorist actions on October 7th. Lindmeier made these remarks during a press conference in Geneva on Friday.

He emphasized that the situation in Gaza is unbelievable and stressed the importance of preserving ambulances and hospitals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 212 instances of healthcare being targeted in the Gaza Strip since October 7, resulting in damage to 56 facilities and 59 ambulances.

An urgent gathering of the United Nations Security Council will occur on Friday morning in New York to address the ongoing crisis between Palestine and Israel.

Hospital units specialized in treating injuries and wounds are often compared to war zones.

According to Mr. Lindmeier, the health workers in Gaza are facing a dire situation with lack of food and water, patients experiencing bleeding on hospital floors, and trauma wards resembling battlefields.

Typically, in a refugee camp setting, there is a requirement of seven liters of water per day for each individual, as emphasized by the speaker. However, in Gaza, the current amount is only one to two liters. Despite WHO convoys attempting to transport medical resources, they have frequently been hindered on their journey and encountered individuals in dire need of sustenance, who attempt to extract food and water from the convoys.

The representative for the World Health Organization (WHO) also announced that a shipment of healthcare resources intended for Al-Ahli hospital in the northern region, which had plans to transport 12 patients to the southern region, had to be halted due to safety concerns on Friday.

According to Mr. Lindmeier, a meeting of the WHO Executive Board will be held on Sunday to address the health situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. This meeting was requested by 15 of the 34 members. A proposed decision will be considered at the meeting, he stated.

==> “There is a greater need for more.”

On Thursday, the World Health Organization provided trauma and emergency supplies to the European Gaza Hospital and Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, serving 4,500 patients. This was the first delivery of its kind since November 29.

The leader of the agency, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, shared on social media platform X that there is a great need for additional resources. He also expressed concern over the challenging circumstances created by ongoing conflicts, which are hindering the agency’s ability to conduct necessary health operations.

The speaker expressed WHO’s great worry for the thousands of patients and health workers in the Gaza Strip.

He wrote that the only solution to safeguarding them is to implement a ceasefire immediately.

Humanitarian operations impeded 

On Friday, humanitarians emphasized that “nowhere is safe” while continuing to provide restricted aid distributions in the southern region of the Strip.

On Thursday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that there were limited aid distributions in Rafah governorate.

According to OCHA, aid distribution in the neighboring Khan Younis governorate has largely ceased due to the high level of hostilities, with the exception of the medical supplies delivery mentioned above.

The United Nations Office has emphasized the urgent situation of tens of thousands of displaced individuals who are being forced to move further south and are being crowded into limited areas. Their survival is at risk due to the overwhelming circumstances. Martin Griffiths, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and emergency relief, issued a warning on Thursday that the rapid pace of Israeli military attacks in southern Gaza has rendered humanitarian aid efforts in the region nearly impossible.

‘Breakdown in law and order’ 

According to OCHA, the number of internally displaced persons seeking refuge in Rafah is still increasing and there are no available spaces for shelter, even in public areas like streets.

OCHA reported that there were long lines at relief centers where many individuals in need of basic necessities were waiting for hours. The organization also expressed concerns about potential chaos and disregard for rules in these circumstances.

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This information is from the United Nations news website.