The United Nations’ senior humanitarian official in Gaza, Jonathan Whittall, described the past year as “a year of destruction, displacement, and despair.” He stated, “Gaza has been completely devastated.” According to the UN News Center, Whittall emphasized that “it is impossible to describe the scale of destruction in Gaza. Nearly the entire population has been displaced and is now confined to just 13% of the total area of the Gaza Strip. The entire population of Gaza is in need of humanitarian assistance to survive.”
Whittall highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where there is insufficient safe water, the healthcare system has collapsed, shelter is inadequate, and there is not enough food to prevent potential famine. He expressed frustration that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is being hindered in its efforts to deliver aid every day.
He stated that many Gazans feel as though they have been sentenced to death as a result of the events since October 7, 2023. “Either they are being killed by bombs and bullets, or they are slowly suffocating from the lack of basic means of survival. The only difference seems to be the speed at which they die,” said Whittall.
The humanitarian official stressed the urgent need for the protection of civilians, the facilitation of humanitarian aid, and the establishment of a ceasefire for the sake of Gaza, the region, and humanity as a whole.
