Devastating scenes of death and horror in Gaza, reveals UN official
Dire conditions prevail in the northern enclave of Gaza, as described by a senior UN official overseeing relief operations Streets are strewn with corpses, and scenes of utter horror unfold, painting a grim reality of the situation
The conditions in northern Gaza are dire, with people starving and dead bodies left in the streets, as described by a top UN official responsible for relief operations in the enclave. "Colleagues who have recently visited the north reported scenes of horror: Bodies abandoned on the ground and starving individuals stopping trucks in desperation for any means of survival," Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, informed the UN Security Council on Friday.
"Many no longer have homes to return to, even if they were able to," he stated, noting that shelters are already overwhelmed with more people than they can handle. The risk of famine is increasing daily as food and water supplies diminish, he added, and the health system is currently in a state of collapse.
Pregnant women are unable to safely give birth and children are unable to receive vaccinations, as the number of infectious diseases increases and people seek refuge in hospital courtyards, he explained. Assistance has been slowly entering Gaza through two border crossings in the south.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on Thursday that Israel had blocked essential supplies from entering northern Gaza. In response, Israel accused the UN's Palestinian refugee agency of hindering progress and not taking sufficient action. Griffiths sharply criticized the delays, denials, and unrealistic conditions faced by his team in trying to send humanitarian convoys to the north, noting that the disregard for the humanitarian notification system posed a danger to aid workers' movements.
Efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to other areas of the enclave have also been severely affected. "Our ability to reach Khan Younis and the central region is greatly limited," he stated.
Palestinians in a refugee camp in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, are seen waiting to receive food donations on December 23, 2023, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. The image was captured by Saher Alghorra for Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images.
The UN official criticized Israel's policy of instructing people to evacuate their homes before military operations, stating that the orders for evacuation are relentless. As ground operations move southwards, aerial bombardments have intensified in areas where civilians were told to relocate for their safety, leaving people forced into an ever-smaller sliver of land. This resulted in more violence, deprivation, inadequate shelter, and a near absence of basic services.
"Gaza offers no sanctuary. Maintaining a dignified human existence is nearly unattainable," he stated.
As per the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, up to 1.9 million individuals, accounting for 85% of Gaza's population, have been forced to flee their homes, often multiple times, since the conflict commenced.
Griffiths also pointed out to UN Security Council members the Hamas attack on Israel.
He stated, "While Gaza is at the heart of this crisis, we must not overlook the 1,200 individuals who lost their lives, the thousands who were injured, and the hundreds who were captured in the violent attack by Hamas and other armed groups on Israel on October 7, along with reports of appalling sexual violence."
Israel's populated areas are still being hit by rocket fire, leading to more civilian casualties and trauma, according to reports. United Nations official Mark Griffiths stated, "What we have seen since October 7 is a stain on our collective conscience. Unless we act, it will become an indelible mark on our humanity."
