Gaza Crisis: Tragic Loss of UN Staffers Prompts Urgent Global Call for Emergency Funding
Tragic loss of 11 UN personnel in Gaza airstrikes as urgent humanitarian funding is sought by the organization Pressing need to support efforts in the embattled Palestinian enclave
The UN informed on Wednesday that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of no less than 11 United Nations employees since the weekend. Despite this tragic loss, the organization is appealing for emergency funding to sustain its vital humanitarian efforts in the besieged Palestinian enclave. Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed his condolences, stating that the UN staffers who lost their lives have made the ultimate sacrifice.
According to Jenifer Austin, UNRWAs Deputy Director in Gaza, the deceased include five teachers, a gynecologist, an engineer, a psychological counselor, and three support staff. She mentioned that some of them were tragically killed in their homes along with their families. Additionally, the organization stated that thirty students attending UN schools have lost their lives.
Gaza has been hammered by Israeli airstrikes for days, in response to a surprise attack launched by Hamas over the weekend that killed at least 1,200 people in Israel.
Smoke rises after Israeli strikes on the seaport of Gaza City, in Gaza, October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Mohammed Salem/Reuters
Israel forms an emergency government and intensifies its offensive in Gaza as the brutal nature of Hamas attacks is exposed. The Israeli Defense Forces are focusing their efforts on targeting Hamas, the governing authority of the coastal enclave. However, the high population density of Gaza, with two million inhabitants living in a confined area of 140 square miles, unfortunately results in the frequent occurrence of civilian casualties. According to Palestinian health authorities, the recent air strikes have already claimed the lives of 1,100 people in Gaza.
The Israeli government has implemented a "complete siege" on Gaza, exacerbating humanitarian issues by cutting off access to basic necessities such as electricity, food, fuel, and water. Adding to these concerns, the region's sole power station has run out of fuel as of Wednesday.
In an effort to address this crisis, officials from the United States and Israel are collaborating to establish a humanitarian corridor. This corridor would enable civilians to leave and facilitate the entry of much-needed humanitarian supplies. The United Nations emphasizes that this step is long overdue.
On June 28, 2021, Qatar-funded fuel tankers reached the vicinity of Gaza City's Kerm Abu Salim Border Gate, which serves as a trade entrance. This significant event marked the arrival of 17 trucks carrying fuel financed by Qatar into the Gaza Strip. It was the first time in 49 days that Israel allowed the entry of such fuel, which was specifically intended to power the enclave's sole power station. (Photo by Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images/File
Gaza's sole power station stops working as fuel runs out, after Israel orders 'complete' blockade
"Essential supplies that can save lives, such as fuel, food, and water, must be granted access to Gaza. Immediate and unrestricted humanitarian assistance is urgently required," stated Guterres.
Meanwhile, UN personnel are tirelessly working round the clock as numerous schools under the UN's operation serve as shelters for civilians escaping the bombings. As per the organization's report, a total of 220,000 individuals are seeking sanctuary from the airstrikes.
The UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, announced on Wednesday that it only has sufficient funds to sustain its operations until the month's end. It is now in "urgent need" of $104 million in new funding.
When questioned about the potential use of a humanitarian corridor as an escape route for Gazans, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized that ensuring safe shelter for civilians within Gaza takes precedence.
"We must ensure the protection of civilians in Gaza to prevent a large-scale displacement, as many have already been uprooted from various regions," he expressed.
The United Nations' influential Security Council is scheduled to convene on Friday afternoon to address the ongoing situation in Israel and Gaza.
CNNs Pierre Meilhan, Abeer Salman and Ibrahim Dahman contributed to this report.
