UN Seeks Faster Aid for Gaza To Prevent Famine, Disease as Death Toll Reaches 24,000

The UN secretary-general has once again made a plea for an urgent humanitarian cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the heads of his aid agencies are urging for additional entry points to ensure the delivery of relief supplies and prevent famine and the outbreak of diseases.

UN Calls For Urgent Aid For Gaza

(Photo : ANDREA RENAULT/AFP via Getty Images)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during an interview at the United Nations headquarters ahead of the COP28 meeting in New York, November 29, 2023. The COP28 climate conference should aim for a complete "phaseout" of fossil fuels, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told AFP on November 29, warning of "total disaster" on humanity's current trajectory. "Obviously I am strongly in favor of language that includes (a) phaseout, even with a reasonable time framework," Guterres said in an interview before flying off to the United Arab Emirates, the oil-rich nation hosting the two-week UN climate summit beginning November 30. (Photo by Andrea RENAULT / AFP) (Photo by ANDREA RENAULT/AFP via Getty Images)

Antonio Guterres expressed his strong disapproval of the collective punishment inflicted upon the Palestinian people during a press conference at the United Nations. "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is beyond words. Nowhere and no one is safe," Guterres said.

"The people of Gaza are facing a grim reality of starvation, disease, malnutrition, and other health threats," he expressed.

On Monday, the aid agencies of the United Nations issued a warning about the growing risk of famine and disease among the population of 2.2 million people in the Gaza Strip. They emphasized the urgent need for additional access points to address this pressing issue.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the World Food Program (WFP), the UN Children's agency (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the importance of implementing certain measures to ensure the delivery of sufficient supplies to the Palestinians in Gaza.

These measures include the establishment of new entry routes, increased daily allowance of trucks passing through border checks, reduced restrictions on the movement of humanitarian workers, and the provision of safety guarantees for those involved in accessing and distributing aid.

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain emphasized the importance of ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches all those in need in Gaza in order to prevent famine. Since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, the WFP has provided assistance to over 900,000 individuals out of the 2.2 million people in Gaza.

There is a significant issue at the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza. This crossing, mainly designed for pedestrians, is unable to accommodate the number of trucks that need to enter the territory. As a result, there are substantial backlogs that need to be addressed.

Israel recently permitted the opening of the Kerem Shalom [Karem Abu Salem, in Arabic] crossing for humanitarian purposes. However, according to the UN, its usage varies depending on the prevailing security conditions.

According to aid chiefs, obtaining Israeli authorization is crucial to use a functional port near Gaza and access the border crossing points into the northern part of Gaza. According to reports, having access to Ashdod port, located about 40 kilometers to the north, would greatly enhance the ability to transport larger amounts of aid.

This aid could then be moved to northern Gaza by truck. Despite the evacuation orders issued by Israeli authorities, a significant number of Palestinians, estimated to be around 300,000, are still present in the northern region. Unfortunately, only a limited number of convoys have been able to reach them, as per VOA News.

Gaza Conflict Death Toll Rises

According to the health ministry in Gaza, 132 individuals who lost their lives in Israeli strikes have been taken to hospitals in the region. This brings the total number of casualties since the beginning of the conflict to 24,100.

A significant majority of the casualties in the conflict were women and children, as they do not differentiate between combatants and noncombatants. Israel claims that its forces have eliminated approximately 8,000 militants.

Yesterday, the military announced that its forces and aircraft conducted operations against militants in Khan Younis, the second-largest city, which is currently a major focus of the ground offensive. They also targeted militants in northern Gaza, where the Israeli military is actively expanding its control.

Israel attributes the high death toll to Hamas, alleging that its fighters utilize civilian buildings and carry out attacks from densely populated urban areas.

A tragic incident occurred in Israel, where a woman lost her life and 12 others were injured in a car-ramming and stabbing attack in a suburb of Tel Aviv. Authorities have stated that the attack was perpetrated by multiple individuals of Palestinian descent. They were subsequently apprehended. According to law enforcement, the individuals allegedly took possession of three separate vehicles and made reckless attempts to harm pedestrians.

There have been several incidents of violence targeting Israelis in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank during the ongoing conflict. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, approximately 350 Palestinians have lost their lives in the West Bank due to clashes with Israeli forces. According to Global News, these incidents have primarily occurred during Israeli arrest raids or violent protests.