The UN Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, Gilles Michaud, affirmed that the United Nations is determined to remain in Gaza to provide life-saving aid to Palestinian civilians, despite the fact that relief workers have been caught in the crossfire throughout this deadly crisis, which has become the most fatal for the UN.
According to the UN News Centre, the Under-Secretary-General stated, “Humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza continues, which is an immense achievement considering the extremely hazardous work environment.” He highlighted that the latest mass evacuation orders are the newest in a long list of intolerable threats faced by the UN and humanitarian workers.
He added, “Over the weekend, the Israeli occupation gave just a few hours’ notice to move more than 200 UN staff from their offices and residences in Deir al-Balah, a critical humanitarian hub. Like most Palestinians in Gaza, safe spaces for our staff are running out.” He pointed out that the timing couldn’t be worse, given the large-scale polio vaccination campaign set to begin soon, which requires the entry of many UN staff into Gaza.
The UN official noted that the actions of the Israeli occupation forces over the weekend exacerbate existing security threats and severely impact the pace at which aid can be safely delivered, stressing that these restrictions are beyond control.
According to Gilles Michaud, the UN’s ability to provide assistance relies on the responsibility of the parties in the conflict to do everything they can to keep UN staff safe, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The UN official stated, “The men and women risking their lives to deliver humanitarian aid need a safe and permanent place to work from,” calling on all parties to respect international law and their obligations under the UN Charter to ensure the safety and security of UN staff and offices.
