15 officials wrote that “all residents of North Gaza “They are at imminent risk of death from disease, famine and violence.”
The heads of the bodies that make up the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee said, “The situation in northern Gaza is horrific.”
They added: “The area has been under siege for about a month, and is deprived of basic aid and life-saving supplies, while bombing and other attacks continue. In just the past few days, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and thousands have been forcibly displaced again.”
They also urged all warring parties in the besieged sector to protect civilians, and called Israel To “stop its attack on Gaza and on humanitarian workers trying to provide assistance.”
They stressed that “humanitarian aid is not keeping pace with the scale of needs due to access restrictions. Basic life-saving goods are not available. Humanitarian workers are not safe to do their work, and Israeli forces and insecurity prevent them from reaching those in need.”
The heads of major UN humanitarian agencies added, “Humanitarian relief must be facilitated, and we urge all parties to provide unhindered access to those affected,” stressing that “hospitals must not turn into battlefields.”
The statement was signed by the heads of the United Nations agencies in charge of humanitarian affairs, health, food, rights, migration, refugees, development, children, women, and others.
UN officials said, “The entire region is on the brink of the abyss. An immediate cessation of hostilities and…cease-fire “Sustainable and unconditional are long overdue.”
