The head of the Office for Humanitarian Assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Jonathan Whittall, denounced the critical situation in Gaza on Wednesday, calling it “an endless war” that “defies decency, defies humanity, and defies the law.” During a press conference held via video conference, Whittall painted a grim picture in which there has been a “never-ending parade of horrors” in recent weeks. He recounted alarming incidents, such as the bombing of UN facilities resulting in the death of one worker and the injury of others.
The situation has deteriorated since the ceasefire was broken, with the resumption of forced displacement orders affecting around 100,000 people in Rafah. Many of these people are attempting to flee under enemy fire, and Whittall mentioned that some civilians have been shot in the back while trying to escape. Since March 18, the death toll has been rising, including “dozens of children,” creating an atmosphere of terror and chaos.
Currently, 64% of Gaza is under displacement orders or confined to a buffer zone, and almost the entire Rafah governorate is embroiled in the conflict. Aerial attacks continue unabated, leading to hospitals being overwhelmed with casualties. Whittall shared testimonies from his humanitarian colleagues, expressing their desire to die alongside their families, feeling a deep fear of surviving alone. He emphasized the need not to dehumanize Palestinian civilians in the midst of this crisis.
The humanitarian situation is dire, with a month without vital supplies, including food, fuel, and humanitarian aid in general. An estimated 2.1 million people are trapped, suffering constant bombardment and famine. World Food Program-subsidized bakeries have remained closed, and despite efforts, humanitarian workers, mainly Palestinians, are facing huge difficulties. Whittall lamented that “we are not magicians,” referring to the impossibility of handling the magnitude of the crisis without a ceasefire.
The lives of humanitarian workers are also at serious risk. Joyce Msuya, Deputy Director of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, called on the Security Council to put an end to attacks on these professionals and hold the perpetrators accountable. Since October 7, 2023, more than 408 humanitarian workers have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip, making it the most dangerous region in the world for those trying to provide aid. Msuya also highlighted the media disparity in coverage of the attacks, calling for greater attention to be paid to local workers, who receive disproportionately low coverage compared to their international counterparts.
On the ground, at least 22 people, including nine children, were killed on Wednesday in an Israeli attack on a UNRWA health center in Yabalia, which was serving as a shelter for over 700 displaced persons. This tragedy underscores the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where many displaced families are forced to remain in unsafe places with nowhere to go after the attacks.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish
