Geneva: The United Nations' (UN) humanitarian aid agency has raised alarms over the ongoing violence in Gaza, describing Israel's military actions as bearing the “hallmarks” of atrocities, particularly due to strikes on populated areas that have led to numerous civilian casualties.
According to Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the current situation marks a significant deterioration, with a clear disregard for human life and dignity.
He noted that hospitals have become battlegrounds, with patients being killed in their beds, ambulances attacked, and first responders also falling victim to the violence. He further highlighted that airstrikes by Israel have claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, including children.
The humanitarian situation has reached alarming levels, with over 142,000 people displaced in recent days, many of them forced to flee their homes multiple times.
Laerke pointed out that displacement orders now affect nearly 18 percent of Gaza's territory, and the numbers continue to rise daily, leaving many with no safe refuge and limited means of survival.
The ceasefire deal that had allowed some humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza has collapsed, with access to essential supplies now entirely cut off. This reversal, Laerke said, has made the situation even more dire, as no supplies are entering Gaza and the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen.
The UN official strongly condemned the collective punishment of Palestinians, underscoring that international law prohibits such measures. He emphasized the lack of respect for basic human principles, as evidenced by the continued violence and restrictions on humanitarian aid.
The World Food Program (WFP) also reported that it has only 5,700 tonnes of food left in Gaza, enough to sustain operations for no more than two weeks. WFP and its partners have positioned more than 85,000 tonnes of food outside Gaza, awaiting the opening of border crossings to allow the aid in.
The agency warned that it requires 30,000 tonnes of food per month to meet the needs of approximately 1.1 million people in Gaza, which represents half of the population in the area.
The situation has led to soaring food prices, with the cost of a 25-kilogram bag of wheat flour rising to $50, a staggering 400 percent increase compared to prices before Israel resumed its bombing campaign in mid-March. Additionally, the price of cooking gas has surged by 300 percent since February.
According to the UN Women special representative in Palestine, Maryse Guimond, women and children make up nearly 60 percent of the casualties since the escalation of violence, with an average of 21 women and over 40 children being killed daily. This statistic underscores the indiscriminate nature of the ongoing attacks, with vulnerable groups suffering disproportionately.
Since Israel resumed its aerial bombardment on March 18, at least 855 people have been killed, and nearly 1,900 have been injured. The attack has shattered the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that had been in place since January.
The total death toll of Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023 has surpassed 50,000, with over 113,900 others injured, largely women and children, highlighting the brutal impact of the military campaign.