#BreakingNews United Nations Leaders Call for an Immediate Ceasefire as Over 3,000 Children Killed and 59 UN Workers are Killed in Gaza saying "No place is safe in Gaza"
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The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, said:
"I reiterate my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, together with the unconditional release of hostages & the delivery of relief at a level corresponding to the dramatic needs of the people in Gaza, where a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in front of our eyes."
Later, he also noted that laws of war needed to be followed:
"The protection of civilians is paramount. The Laws of War establish clear rules to protect human life and respect humanitarian concerns. Those laws cannot be contorted for the sake of expedience."In addition, Mr Philippe Lazzarini, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), before the UN Security Council, called for:
an immediate ceasefire, as a matter of "life and death for millions" In the meeting he also appealed for safe delivery of aid to besieged Gaza, and warned that ongoing attacks will deepen divides and exacerbate polarization, undermining peace and stability in the region with global consequences.
He outlined 3 urgent priorities:
1 - There must be strict adherence to international humanitarian law, this means civilians and civilian infrastructure including UN premises, schools, hospitals and places of worship and shelters hosting civilians must be protected all over the Gaza Strip, North and South, and at all times. "This is not an option this is an obligation"
2 - We need a safe unimpeded. substantial and continuous flow of humanitarian aid, including fuel into the Gaza Strip and across it. For this we need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
3 - UNRWA still needs funds, we have the necessary and largest presence on the ground, we can deliver if we have the means and the resources including the finances to pay staff on the front lines. UNRWA has received generous contributions towards its initial flash appeal but without a fully funded core budget we cannot pay salaries and deliver.
1 - There must be strict adherence to international humanitarian law, this means civilians and civilian infrastructure including UN premises, schools, hospitals and places of worship and shelters hosting civilians must be protected all over the Gaza Strip, North and South, and at all times. "This is not an option this is an obligation"
2 - We need a safe unimpeded. substantial and continuous flow of humanitarian aid, including fuel into the Gaza Strip and across it. For this we need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
3 - UNRWA still needs funds, we have the necessary and largest presence on the ground, we can deliver if we have the means and the resources including the finances to pay staff on the front lines. UNRWA has received generous contributions towards its initial flash appeal but without a fully funded core budget we cannot pay salaries and deliver.
Finally, in these dark times, we must not lose sight of our humanity, our empathy should apply to all Palestinians, Israelis, Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The rules of law must be followed by all parties at all times and in all places. Civilians must be protected, hostages released and a genuine humanitarian response facilitated.
As of today, there are about one-half million people displaced in Gaza and nearly 630,000 of those are in Unrwa shelters.
As Israel continues to expand its military assault deeper into the northern Gaza Strip, the UN and medical staff express fears over airstrikes hitting closer to hospitals, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have sought shelter alongside thousands of wounded.
The Palestinian death toll since Israel launched retaliatory attacks on Gaza on October 7th is over 8,000 people killed. (Graphic Videos : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=808IgGwV1W4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnd2jlQhMPs )The overwhelming majority of those killed are civilians. They include elderly people, disabled people, women and children who account for almost 3,000 of those deaths.
The Palestinian death toll since Israel launched retaliatory attacks on Gaza on October 7th is over 8,000 people killed. (Graphic Videos : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=808IgGwV1W4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnd2jlQhMPs )The overwhelming majority of those killed are civilians. They include elderly people, disabled people, women and children who account for almost 3,000 of those deaths.
Meanwhile, relief workers, who are also suffering major losses, said the largest convoy of humanitarian aid to arrive in Gaza still fell far short of needs and are calling for an urgent ceasefire.
Since Saturday, October 28th, most contact was lost with UNRWA teams in the Gaza Strip, UNRWA’s Twitter account confirmed that at least 59 colleagues are confirmed dead, “which is more than the entire death toll of colleagues during the 10-years of the Syrian war.”
In a Vatican News interview, Antonino Brusa, Director of Human Resources at UNRWA, said, “They are mothers and fathers, teachers, gynaecologists, doctors,” Brusa said expressing fear that the number may have increased given the continuing heavy bombardments.
Since Saturday, October 28th, most contact was lost with UNRWA teams in the Gaza Strip, UNRWA’s Twitter account confirmed that at least 59 colleagues are confirmed dead, “which is more than the entire death toll of colleagues during the 10-years of the Syrian war.”
In a Vatican News interview, Antonino Brusa, Director of Human Resources at UNRWA, said, “They are mothers and fathers, teachers, gynaecologists, doctors,” Brusa said expressing fear that the number may have increased given the continuing heavy bombardments.
The breaks in communications are making the work of humanitarian operators who are trying to respond to the needs of more than 600,000 displaced people, extremely challenging.
Fuel, he explained, remains the most urgently needed supply “for trucks to receive and distribute aid, for bakeries, hospitals, water desalination.”
Vatican News reported that Brusa explained that UNRWA has rationed to the maximum its use of fuel to enable it to stretch its last remaining supply for another day or two, but warned that it will be forced to make a very tough decision to significantly reduce its operation and, in some places to totally bring them to a halt if fuel is not supplied.
Noting that UNRWA supports 50 bakeries, many of which have been bombed, it is trying in cooperation with WFP to provide bread to the 150 UNRWA shelters where more than 600,000 displaced people have sought refuge, Brusa said that “as we are not able to have fuel in the cars to drive the flour to the bakeries, nor give them fuel, the distribution of bread is also likely to stop.”
The lack of fuel, he underscored, is severely undermining the possibility of providing all humanitarian support.
Noting that the number of internally displaced people has now increased dramatically, he said it is four times higher than what UNRWA originally planned as part of its crisis response.
Reiterating that hospitals, schools, places of worship, people's homes, shops and sources of livelihood have all come under attack, Brusa said “No place is safe in Gaza.”
“There are still about 300 to 400 thousand people left in the north and we need to be able to deliver assistance to wherever the people who are in need are living,” he said, pointing out that “Civilians in Gaza have paid a tremendous price with over a million displaced, neighbourhoods destroyed and thousands of casualties.”
“Civilians in Gaza have paid a tremendous price.”
The longer this war goes on, Brusa concluded, “the deeper the divides are going to be and the more polarization we are going to have.
“This will further push away from peace and stability in the region, with regional and global consequences.”
Fuel, he explained, remains the most urgently needed supply “for trucks to receive and distribute aid, for bakeries, hospitals, water desalination.”
Vatican News reported that Brusa explained that UNRWA has rationed to the maximum its use of fuel to enable it to stretch its last remaining supply for another day or two, but warned that it will be forced to make a very tough decision to significantly reduce its operation and, in some places to totally bring them to a halt if fuel is not supplied.
Noting that UNRWA supports 50 bakeries, many of which have been bombed, it is trying in cooperation with WFP to provide bread to the 150 UNRWA shelters where more than 600,000 displaced people have sought refuge, Brusa said that “as we are not able to have fuel in the cars to drive the flour to the bakeries, nor give them fuel, the distribution of bread is also likely to stop.”
The lack of fuel, he underscored, is severely undermining the possibility of providing all humanitarian support.
Noting that the number of internally displaced people has now increased dramatically, he said it is four times higher than what UNRWA originally planned as part of its crisis response.
“The shelters are overcrowded, they lack privacy and sanitation,” he continued saying that for example “in the Rafah logistics base, where more than 8,000 people have sought shelter, 400 people are sharing one toilet.”
“Displaced people live in unsanitary conditions due to overcrowding and lack of clean water. This poses a serious risk to public health and the spread of diseases.”Reiterating that hospitals, schools, places of worship, people's homes, shops and sources of livelihood have all come under attack, Brusa said “No place is safe in Gaza.”
“There are still about 300 to 400 thousand people left in the north and we need to be able to deliver assistance to wherever the people who are in need are living,” he said, pointing out that “Civilians in Gaza have paid a tremendous price with over a million displaced, neighbourhoods destroyed and thousands of casualties.”
“Civilians in Gaza have paid a tremendous price.”
The longer this war goes on, Brusa concluded, “the deeper the divides are going to be and the more polarization we are going to have.
“This will further push away from peace and stability in the region, with regional and global consequences.”
With my entire @UN family, I grieve the loss of so many @UNRWA colleagues.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 30, 2023
Amid unimaginable suffering & pain, colleagues in Gaza continue to serve those in need despite serious risk to their own lives.
They have my gratitude, solidarity, and full support. https://t.co/mf8WGWQog8
I reiterate my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, together with the unconditional release of hostages & the delivery of relief at a level corresponding to the dramatic needs of the people in Gaza, where a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in front of our eyes.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 28, 2023
The protection of civilians is paramount.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 29, 2023
The Laws of War establish clear rules to protect human life and respect humanitarian concerns.
Those laws cannot be contorted for the sake of expedience.
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