The United Nations’ top coordinator for humanitarian affairs and reconstruction in Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, stated on Wednesday that the war on Gaza has unleashed a vortex of humanitarian despair, collapsing the public health system and disrupting the education system, threatening future generations.
Addressing the UN Security Council on the Middle East situation, Kaag emphasized that ambitious planning for Gaza’s reconstruction requires generous funding. She highlighted the vital role of the Palestinian Authority in the sector to implement recovery efforts.
She explained that Gaza’s reconstruction involves building or renovating more permanent homes, restoring health and sanitation systems, rehabilitating schools, and supporting around 17,000 children who have become orphans due to the war.
The UN official pointed out that over a million people were displaced again from Gaza following the Israeli attack on Rafah in May, desperately seeking safety and shelter.
Kaag expressed deep concern over reports of new evacuation orders in Khan Yunis and their impact on civilian populations. She also addressed the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2720, which aims to expedite and simplify aid delivery across Gaza.
She stressed the need for a continuous flow of aid to Gaza to deliver quality and quantity supplies through all land and sea crossings, including urgently reopening the Rafah border crossing.
The UN official also called for urgent measures to establish an effective and predictable system to prevent military-humanitarian conflict, ensure coordination throughout Gaza, and maintain access to essential security, communications equipment, and humanitarian supplies.
In a related context, more than 150,000 people in Gaza have suffered from skin diseases due to unhealthy conditions in shelters and tents since the beginning of the war, according to the World Health Organization.
The World Health Organization confirmed 96,417 cases of scabies and lice, 9,274 cases of chickenpox, 60,130 cases of dermatitis, and 10,038 cases of shingles in Gaza since October 7. It warned of the spread of other diseases in refugee camps due to poor hygiene, reporting 485,000 cases of diarrhea due to worsening malnutrition.
