The United Nations humanitarian chief says Gaza has become “uninhabitable” three months after Hamas’ horrific attacks against Israel and “a public health disaster is unfolding.” Martin Griffiths said in a statement Friday that “people are facing the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded (and) famine is around the corner.”
Quick Read
- Gaza’s Dire Situation: The U.N. humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, has described Gaza as “uninhabitable” three months following the attacks by Hamas against Israel.
- Public Health Crisis: Griffiths emphasized that a public health disaster is unfolding in Gaza, with the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded and an impending famine.
- Threats to Gazans’ Existence: He noted that the people in Gaza are facing daily threats to their existence while the international community observes the situation.
- Casualties and Living Conditions: Tens of thousands of people, predominantly women and children, have been killed or injured. Many families are forced to sleep outdoors in dropping temperatures, and their relocation areas have been targeted and bombed.
- Healthcare System Collapse: Partially functioning hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed, facing critical shortages of supplies. Infectious diseases are spreading, and amidst this, approximately 180 Palestinian women are giving birth daily.
- U.N. Demands: Griffiths reiterated the United Nations’ demands for an immediate end to the war and the release of all hostages. He called on the international community to exert its influence to bring about these changes.
- Challenges for Aid Workers: The humanitarian mission in Gaza is described as nearly impossible, with aid workers being killed, communications blackouts, damaged infrastructure, attacks on aid convoys, and a severe lack of commercial supplies.
- Appeal for War’s End: Griffiths expressed that the situation in Gaza represents “the worst of humanity” and emphasized the urgent need for the war to end.
The Associated Press has the story:
U.N. Humanitarian Chief says Gaza has become ‘Uninhabitable’
Newslooks- UNITED NATIONS (AP)
The United Nations humanitarian chief says Gaza has become “uninhabitable” three months after Hamas’ horrific attacks against Israel and “a public health disaster is unfolding.”
Martin Griffiths said in a statement Friday that “people are facing the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded (and) famine is around the corner.”
And Gazans are “witnessing daily threats to their very existence – while the world watches on,” he said.
The U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs said tens of thousands of people, mostly women and children, have been killed or injured, families are sleeping in the open as temperatures plummet, and areas where Palestinians were told to relocate have been bombed.
The few partially functioning hospitals are overwhelmed and critically short of supplies, infectious diseases are spreading, and amidst the chaos some 180 Palestinian women are giving birth every day, he said.
Griffiths reiterated U.N. demands for an immediate end to the war and the release of all hostages, declaring, “It is time for the international community to use all its influence to make this happen.”
He said the humanitarian community is facing an “impossible mission” of supporting more than 2 million people in Gaza while aid workers are killed, communications blackouts continue, roads are damaged, truck convoys are shot at, and vital commercial supplies “are almost non-existent.”
Gaza has shown “the worst of humanity,” Griffiths said, and it’s long past time for the war to end.
