Schools, hospitals and civilians in Gaza are also unsafe, OCHA chief says

 Monday 23 December 2024

Islamabad (UrduPoint News Today / Pakistan Point News - 23rd December 2024) UN Under-Secretary-General and Head of the Relief Agency ‘OCHA’ Tom Fletcher has said that no place is safe for civilians in Gaza where schools, hospitals and civilian facilities have become piles of rubble.

After visiting the Middle East, he said that northern Gaza has been under complete siege for two months and is on the verge of famine.

There are more people than can be accommodated in southern Gaza, where diseases are spreading in appalling living conditions and humanitarian needs have increased manifold with the arrival of winter.

Israeli airstrikes across Gaza are causing widespread destruction, displacement and death.

These attacks are also taking place in areas that the Israeli army itself declares safe and orders people to move there.

The horrific conditions in Gaza

This was Tom Fletcher’s first visit to the region after assuming office as the UN Relief Coordinator. During this time, he also visited Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan and met with UN staff, partners, local authorities and ordinary people.

He said that the International Court of Justice had ordered in January this year that humanitarian aid should be provided to civilians during the war. However, the situation in Gaza in this regard is appalling. The number of aid workers killed in the area this year is unprecedented.

There is a huge humanitarian need in Gaza, but at present it is almost impossible to deliver even a small amount of aid there.

Since October 6, Israeli authorities have rejected more than 100 requests for aid to northern Gaza. Now, order has also been lost in the area and armed groups have started looting humanitarian aid.

Violence and destruction in the West Bank

Tom Fletcher said that the situation in the West Bank is also deteriorating, where Israeli military operations this year have caused widespread destruction, including damage to roads, water systems, refugee camps and people’s homes, and have resulted in deaths and injuries.

Israeli settler violence and the destruction of Palestinian homes by them have led to displacement and increasing humanitarian needs. Due to restrictions on movement in the area, Palestinians face obstacles in finding employment and accessing essential services, especially health facilities.

Tribute to aid workers

He said that despite all these problems, the United Nations and the aid community are making every effort to remain present in the area and provide assistance to people.

Tom Fletcher urged the international community to uphold international humanitarian law and call on the warring parties to ensure the safety of all civilians in all circumstances. Hamas should be urged to release all hostages, protect the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and end the cycle of violence.

He paid tribute to the aid workers who are working to protect the lives of civilians in the current circumstances.