UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher delivered a stark warning to the Security Council on Wednesday, emphasizing that Gaza's escalating humanitarian needs must be met without forcing civilians into the line of fire.
Key Points from the Briefing:
Unprecedented Humanitarian Crisis
Civilians in Gaza face death, injury, forced displacement, and loss of dignity
"Words cannot describe the situation in Gaza," Fletcher stated
Israeli occupation authorities must ensure access to food and medical supplies
Dire Conditions on the Ground
"Food is running out, and those who seek it risk being shot"
People are dying while trying to feed their families
Field hospitals are receiving bodies daily
Medical workers hear firsthand accounts of injuries every day
Legal and Moral Obligations
"We don't need to debate whether killing civilians waiting in line for basic necessities fulfills obligations to protect civilians"
Humanitarian workers face threats of reduced access to populations in need
Nowhere is the tension between advocacy and aid delivery more apparent than in Gaza
West Bank Situation
Continued loss of life and livelihoods
Movement restrictions and increasing displacement
UN Response Plan
Requires predictable, large-scale multi-sectoral assistance
Needs multiple crossing points where people won't face gunfire
Requires distribution through established UN humanitarian mechanisms
Call to Action
Urged Security Council members to assess:
Whether the occupation is fulfilling its international legal obligations
Whether humanitarian workers can safely perform their duties
Stressed that deliberate starvation of civilians constitutes a "war crime"
Called for:
Protection of all civilians
Release of hostages
Safeguarding of humanitarian workers
Immediate ceasefire