UN Humanitarian Operations in Gaza Complicated by Attacks and Aid Blockades
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Synopsis
UN humanitarian workers are urging Israel for safety assurances amidst escalating violence and a blockade on aid, severely affecting relief efforts in Gaza. This situation has led to significant displacement and healthcare challenges for the local population.
Key Takeaways
- UN seeks Israel's safety assurances for humanitarian workers.
- Aid deliveries are critically impeded due to a 20-day blockade.
- Over 120,000 Palestinians displaced amid escalating violence.
- Nearly 850 movement obstacles identified in the West Bank.
- Ongoing hostilities putting pressure on healthcare in Gaza.
United Nations, March 22 (NationPress) UN humanitarian workers are urgently requesting Israel's commitment to safety, as escalating hostilities coupled with an ongoing blockade on aid are critically undermining the provision of relief to Gaza.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated on Friday that the organization is in need of solid assurances regarding the safety of its personnel and operations in Gaza, particularly following the tragic deaths of six UN workers and injuries to several others earlier this week, including an attack on a clearly marked UN facility, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
"We demand accountability on their behalf and for those who persist in their efforts," expressed Tom Fletcher, the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, on Wednesday.
OCHA highlighted that the 20-day closure of Gaza's crossings for aid deliveries is inflicting catastrophic consequences on a population already in dire straits.
"Each day that passes further diminishes the advancements achieved by the UN and our humanitarian allies during the initial six weeks of the ceasefire," the office remarked. "OCHA warns that humanitarian efforts are now being critically obstructed by ongoing hostilities. Civilians, including aid workers, and civilian infrastructure have come under fire."
OCHA cautioned that as violence persists throughout the Gaza Strip, the continuous influx of trauma injuries is placing additional strain on an already overwhelmed healthcare system.
The UN's humanitarian partners estimate that over 120,000 Palestinians have been displaced once again this week due to the intensified assaults and new evacuation directives from Israel throughout Gaza, according to OCHA. "This equates to approximately 6 percent of the remaining population."
A fresh evacuation order affecting regions in northern Gaza was issued on Friday following reports of rocket fire from Palestinian armed factions.
In the West Bank, OCHA conducted a swift assessment of movement barriers across the occupied territory, revealing nearly 850 checkpoints, gates, and other physical impediments, marking the highest figure recorded in any study over the past 20 years.
"In merely the last three months, three dozen new obstacles to movement have been established, most of which followed the announcement of the Gaza ceasefire in mid-January," OCHA stated. "Road gates make up a third of all barriers, and the majority are frequently kept closed."
Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, noted that Friday marks 60 days since Israel initiated military operations in Jenin Camp in the West Bank.
He asserted that such extensive militarized operations cannot become the standard in the West Bank. The pattern of escalating violence that began prior to October 7, 2023, must be reversed.
