As world leaders gather in New York for the 79th United Nations General Assembly and the threat of a wider regional escalation looms, the world's humanitarian leaders are demanding an end to the appalling human suffering and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. "These atrocities must end," they said in a statement signed Monday by the heads of UN agencies and representatives of the world's non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
For more than eleven months, an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe has been unfolding in the Gaza Strip, with people dying from widespread violence, disease and hunger. Leading UN officials have previously described the situation in Gaza as "apocalyptic," "hell on earth," "beyond catastrophic," and said that the humanitarian community is "running out of words to describe what is happening in Gaza."
“We mourn the loss of innocent life everywhere, including those killed on October 7 and during the 11 months of conflict since then. We urgently call for a sustained, immediate and unconditional ceasefire. This is the only way to end the suffering of civilians and save lives,” the joint statement said today.
Monday's statement was issued by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the highest humanitarian coordination forum in the UN system, which brings together the heads of leading UN and non-UN humanitarian agencies.
The statement was signed by acting UN Humanitarian Chief Joyce Msuya, Chair of the IASC, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the heads of the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), CARE International, Mercy Corps and several others.
According to Gaza health officials, more than 41,400 Palestinians in the territory - the majority of them civilians, including women, children, the elderly, and in some cases entire families - have been killed, and more than 95,800 have been injured or maimed.
It is estimated that a quarter of the injured in Gaza, or some 22,500 people, will require lifelong specialized rehabilitation and supportive care, including those with severe limb injuries, amputations, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries and severe burns.
With thousands of bodies still unaccounted for, the actual death toll is likely to be much higher. More than 10,000 others are feared buried under the rubble in Gaza and are presumed dead.
“Humanitarians must have safe and unimpeded access to those in need. We cannot do our jobs in the face of overwhelming need and ongoing violence,” the humanitarian leaders said.
“More than 2 million Palestinians are without protection, food, water, sanitation, shelter, health care, education, electricity and fuel – the basic necessities to survive. Families have been forcibly displaced, time and time again, from one unsafe place to the next, with no way out. “
Some 1.9 million people - 90 percent of Gaza's total population - have been displaced by Israeli military attacks or Israeli evacuation orders, including people who have been forced to flee dozens of times. Among those uprooted by the war are at least 1 million children, including some 17,000 unaccompanied or separated boys and girls.
The IASC leaders warn that the dignity, safety, health and rights of women and girls have been severely compromised.
The health system has been decimated. Only 17 out of 36 hospitals are partially functional, and only 57 out of 132 primary health care facilities are partly functional, amid crippling shortages of fuel, medicine, and essential supplies. More than 500 attacks on health care services have been recorded in Gaza.
As humanitarian access remains restricted, the entire population of the Gaza Strip is experiencing acute hunger and is at risk of famine. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report for Gaza shows that 96 percent of the population faces acute food insecurity at crisis level or worse, with nearly half a million people in catastrophic conditions.
“Aid hubs have been forced to relocate and re-build many times over; convoys carrying life-saving aid have been shot at, delayed and denied access; and relief workers have been killed in unprecedented numbers. The number of aid workers killed in Gaza in the past year is the highest ever in a single crisis,” the IASC statement said.
The confirmed dead include at least 302 aid workers, 224 UN staff, 986 health workers and 173 journalists.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), nearly 50 percent of humanitarian missions to Gaza were denied or impeded by Israeli authorities last month, making August the most difficult month for humanitarian access since January of this year.
The humanitarian leaders warn that the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force in the West Bank, combined with escalating settler violence, home demolitions, forced displacement and discriminatory restrictions on movement, have led to increased deaths and casualties.
“The war is also jeopardizing the future for all Palestinians and rendering eventual recovery far from reach,” they said.
The IASC leaders also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and those arbitrarily detained.
Nearly 100 Israeli and foreign national hostages remain in Gaza, while released hostages have reported ill-treatment, including sexual violence. Thousands of Palestinians have been arbitrarily and secretly detained, tortured and ill-treated by Israeli authorities.
"The parties’ conduct over the last year makes a mockery of their claim to adhere to international humanitarian law and the minimum standards of humanity that it demands," the statement said.
“Civilians must be protected, and their essential needs must be met. There must be accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.”
Humanitarian aid organizations have been doing their utmost to provide relief in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), both in Gaza and the West Bank, often at great personal risk and with many aid workers paying the ultimate price.
“Our capacity to deliver is indisputable if we are granted the access we need. The first round of the polio vaccination campaign, reaching more than 560,000 children under the age of 10, is but one example. The second round of vaccinations must be carried out safely and reach all children in Gaza,” the statement said.
The officials urged world leaders once again to use their influence to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law and the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - through diplomatic pressure and cooperation to end impunity.
The Israeli government fails to comply with ICJ orders. Enforcing compliance with international law is the responsibility of the UN Security Council. But the Council has not enforced any of the Court's rulings since January, in a further breakdown of the international rule of law.
As the carnage in Gaza continues, there is mounting evidence that Israeli government and military officials are responsible for widespread war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the enclave and beyond.
Despite this, Israel's closest allies - including the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom - have failed to stop the atrocities and continue to provide political and military support for Israel's war in Gaza, which is causing immense loss of civilian life and untold suffering.
“Let us be clear: The protection of civilians is a bedrock principle for the global community and in all countries’ interest. Allowing the abhorrent, downward spiral caused by this war in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to continue will have unimaginable, global consequences,” the IASC statement said.
“These atrocities must end.”
Meanwhile, another humanitarian catastrophe looms in the region. On Monday, Israeli security forces escalated their war against Lebanon. According to Lebanese officials, Israeli airstrikes killed more than 270 people and wounded more than 1,000, including children and many more civilians.
The Israeli assault today was by far the deadliest day in Lebanon since the current crisis began nearly a year ago. While the country's death toll is rising rapidly, hundreds of Israeli airstrikes have pounded residential areas so far, sending families fleeing in terror from the south of the country.
Further information
Full text: Statement by Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory - These atrocities must end, IASC principals, statement, released September 23, 2024
https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/inter-agency-standing-committee/statement-principals-inter-agency-standing-committee-situation-occupied-palestinian-territory-these