KATHMANDU: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday warned about the escalating crisis in Gaza, stating that the situation in the region is desperate and deteriorating rapidly.
Speaking during a visit to Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, Guterres made desperate appeals for an immediate ceasefire to halt the “nightmare” of bloodshed.
“The situation in Gaza is growing more desperate by the hour. I regret that instead of a critically needed humanitarian pause, supported by the international community, Israel has intensified its brutal military operations,” Guterres said, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.
At least 8,000 innocent Palestinians have been martyred in the ongoing brutal Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip since October 7. Israeli forces recently launched “stage two” of the war with ground incursions since late Friday, exacerbating the panic and fear within Gaza. Over one million Palestinian people have been displaced in the region, with essential supplies such as food, water, shelter, and medical care becoming increasingly scarce.
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“The world is witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe taking place before our eyes,” Guterres stated, highlighting the desperate situation faced by the Palestinian civilians in Gaza. He reiterated his appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief on a scale that meets the needs of the people affected.
WHO Chief Says Families “Are Not Safe” in Gaza
Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday said that families in Gaza “are not safe”. He took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and said that hospitals in the besieged Gaza are “overwhelmed with patients” instigation the urgent need for more health supplies.
We managed to hear back from all our colleagues in #Gaza this morning.
As with everyone in Gaza, they and their families are not safe.
They said the last two nights were extremely tense with a lot of air strikes – without fuel, water, electricity, connectivity and safe shelter…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) October 29, 2023
Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) warned that “civil order” in Gaza was starting to collapse after thousands of people looted its food warehouses in the Palestinian territory. The UN Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) said flour, wheat, and other essential supplies had been pillaged at various warehouses. “This is a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down after three weeks of Israeli bombardment and a tight siege,” said UNRWA’s Gaza chief Thomas White.
