The Inter-Agency Standing Committee on the United Nations system issued a statement on Monday, based on which the United Nations Office for the Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Program (WFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (OCHA). UNICEF) was signed by top officials from UNICEF, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UN Institute for the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), several other organizations and partner organizations including CARE International, Save the Children.
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) is the highest forum for coordinating humanitarian assistance efforts in the United Nations system, composed of the heads of 19 agencies.
Top officials mourned the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and the deaths of innocent people in the Gaza Strip over the past 11 months. In addition, a request has been made to implement the ceasefire immediately without any conditions.
The heads of UN agencies and partner organizations said that those held hostage in Gaza must be released immediately, without conditions, and that the flow of humanitarian aid must be kept open to reach those in need.
More than 100 hostages remain in Gaza and those who have been released earlier face allegations of ill-treatment and sexual violence.
He noted that huge needs are not being met amid the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip. According to the local health ministry, more than 41,000 Palestinians have died in the violent clashes, most of them civilians, women, children and the elderly, and more than 95,000 have been injured.
critical situation
According to one estimate, more than 22,000 seriously injured people in Gaza will require long-term rehabilitation and care.
Currently, more than 2 million people are forced to live without the basic necessities of daily life, including food, water, sanitation, healthcare, education and energy.
A large number of families have been repeatedly displaced, and are living in an environment where no place is safe. The threat of famine remains in some parts, while health services are at a standstill. So far, more than 500 attacks on healthcare facilities have been recorded.
In this situation, humanitarian aid centers have been forced to move to other places many times. Humanitarian aid convoys have been repeatedly shot at and permission delayed or denied. A large number of humanitarian aid workers lost their lives.
At the same time, the inter-agency statement expressed concern that there is a disproportionate use of unnecessary force in the West Bank and parallel incidents of violence, habitat destruction, forced displacement and restrictions on the movement of residents. population
Respect for humanitarian law
UN agencies and partner organizations have said that the future of all Palestinians is at stake in this situation and that the situation is irreversible.
Inter-agency officials expressed outrage that international humanitarian law was being mocked. “Civilians must be protected and their essential needs met.”
Additionally, accountability must be established for serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.
The intergovernmental organization called on world leaders to use their influence to ensure respect for international law and the mandate of the International Court of Justice. According to him, diplomatic pressure and cooperation is needed to eliminate the sense of impunity.