Senior United Nations officials called for an end to the appalling humanitarian disaster and suffering in the Gaza Strip, nearly a year after the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas.
A statement signed by directors of UN agencies including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme, along with other relief organizations, on Monday declared, “These brutal acts must end.” The statement was issued as world leaders gathered in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
The officials added in the statement, “Humanitarian workers must have safe and unrestricted access to those in need. We cannot perform our duties amidst these immense needs and ongoing violence.” The United Nations has long complained about the obstacles to delivering and distributing aid in Gaza amid a “complete absence of law” in the besieged Palestinian sector. Nearly 300 relief workers have been killed, more than two-thirds of them United Nations staff.
UN officials stated, “The risk of famine remains, with all 2.1 million residents urgently needing food and livelihood assistance amid restrictions on humanitarian aid access. The healthcare sector has been destroyed. More than 500 attacks on healthcare services in Gaza have been recorded.”
On Monday, the governments of Jordan, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom announced they would collaborate to draft a declaration to protect humanitarian workers and call on all countries to sign it.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, “The year 2024 is expected to be the deadliest ever for relief workers.” She added, “Australia felt this acutely with the strike by the Israeli Defense Forces on World Central Organization vehicles in April, which resulted in the death of Australian Zumi Francom and her colleagues.” She stated, “Gaza is the most dangerous place on earth for relief workers.”
The Israeli military apologized and dismissed two senior commanders involved in the strike on the organization. Three other commanders were formally reprimanded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the strikes were unintended and tragic.
