“We see a health system on its knees, lacking clean water, adequate sanitation and poor nutrition for people who are already mentally and physically exhausted: a textbook formula for epidemics and a public health disaster,” he warned in an explanation. release.
The representative assured that after the end of the pause, humanitarian operations may no longer be able to respond to the devastating situation in the enclave.
He complained that the permitted quantities of aid and fuel were completely inadequate.
According to the envoy, using the Rafah border crossing alone to transport trucks is not working, despite the tremendous efforts of the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent Societies, UN agencies and other partners.
Hastings emphasized that the space for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip is becoming smaller and smaller.
“The two main routes (the Coastal Highway and the Salahaddin Highway) are now cut off for our teams and trucks, affecting our ability to help people wherever they are,” he said.
After the end of the break, 700 Palestinians died in addition to the 15,500 already murdered, the representative said, recalling the expansion of Israeli military operations towards southern Gaza.
This is forcing tens of thousands of people to move into ever smaller spaces, desperate for food, water, shelter and safety, he stressed.
The United Nations and NGOs alone cannot feed a population of 2.2 million, he stressed.
The commercial and public sectors must be allowed to bring supplies into Gaza to replenish markets, including fuel, in a way that ensures Israel’s security.
The humanitarian coordinator described the announcements about the establishment of so-called security zones and tent cities as alarming.
He added that this was no guarantee that people could move freely and receive assistance if needed.
“These areas cannot be safe or humanitarian if they are declared unilaterally,” he stressed.
The United Nations stands ready to work with all parties to increase the number of safe havens managed by the organization and to provide assistance if needed, Hastings said.
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