UN Chief Urges Humanitarian Ceasefire in Gaza As Crisis Deepens
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – United Nations Secretary General António Guterres expressed his deep distress over the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the immense toll on civilians and emphasizing the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire, during a briefing held on Tuesday.
One month after the events of October 7, Guterres reiterated his profound concern regarding the killing of civilians in Gaza and the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that on the previous day, 50 trucks carrying essential supplies, including food, medicine, health items, bottled water, and hygiene products, entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt.
Since October 21, a total of 526 trucks have entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing. Notably, despite these efforts, no fuel has been allowed into Gaza through the Rafah route.
The government of Egypt has given consent for the deployment of a UN technical humanitarian team that will offer guidance to the Egyptian Red Crescent Society concerning aid delivery to Gaza. The team's base will be located in Al Arish.
A significant issue in Gaza remains overcrowding within UN facilities, raising considerable concerns. For instance, the Khan Younis Training Center, where 22,000 displaced individuals have sought shelter, offers less than two square meters of space per person and provides only one toilet for every 600 people.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has noted that the worsening sanitary conditions, coupled with the lack of privacy and space, pose substantial risks to the health and safety of those seeking shelter.
On the West Bank, OCHA reported that, since October 7, 147 Palestinians have lost their lives, including 44 children. These fatalities were caused by Israeli forces. Additionally, eight individuals, including one child, were killed by settlers.
In the West Bank, more than 900 people have been displaced since October 7 due to settler violence and access restrictions.
In response to the worsening crisis, Martin Griffiths, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, is set to represent Guterres at an international humanitarian conference on Gaza, to be hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has initiated a visit to the Middle East to engage with government officials, civil society, and other stakeholders regarding the human rights situation in the region. His visit includes Cairo, with plans to travel to Rafah, on the Gaza border, and Amman in the coming days.
The High Commissioner has also sought access to Israel, the Occupied West Bank, and Gaza as part of his mission to address the growing human rights concerns in the region.