Renewed fighting in Gaza: Civilians must be protected. The denial of lifesaving aid must end by UNICEF, World Food Programme, OHCA, agencies   3 July 2025 (UN News)   The UN Secretary-General is “appalled” by the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as civilians face yet another wave of mass displacement with few safe places to go.   Multiple attacks in recent days have killed and injured scores of Palestinians at sites hosting displaced people and others attempting to access essential supplies, according to a statement from UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Thursday.   “The Secretary-General strongly condemns the loss of civilian life,” Mr. Dujarric said.   On just one day this week, nearly 30,000 people were forced to flee under new Israeli relocation orders, with no safe place to go and clearly inadequate supplies of shelter, food, medicine or water, he added.   With no fuel having entered Gaza in over 17 weeks, the UN chief is also “gravely concerned that the last lifelines for survival are being cut off.”   “Without an urgent influx of fuel, incubators will shut down, ambulances will be unable to reach the injured and sick, and water cannot be purified,” Mr. Dujarric said.   “The delivery by the United Nations and partners of what little of our lifesaving humanitarian aid is left in Gaza will also grind to a halt.”   The Secretary-General reiterated his call for safe and sustained humanitarian access so aid can reach people in desperate need.   “The UN has a clear and proven plan, rooted in the humanitarian principles, to get vital assistance to civilians – safely and at scale, wherever they are,” Mr. Dujarric said.   The Secretary-General reiterated his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups. He reminded all parties that international humanitarian law must be upheld.   WFP Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Carl Skau, visited Gaza City on 1-2 July, talking to families there and assessing the humanitarian situation. A recent WFP assessment shows nearly one person in three is not eating for days, placing more people at risk of starvation.   The following quotes may be attributed to him:   “This is my fourth visit to Gaza since the start of the conflict. The situation is the worst I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to find words to describe the level of desperation I have witnessed. People are dying just trying to get food. Our kitchens are empty; they are now serving hot water with a bit of pasta floating in it. A mother told me she had gone to a kitchen hoping to find a hot meal and fainted there. There was nothing to eat and she went home without anything for her children. A father I met had lost 25 kgs in the past two months. People are starving, while we have food just across the border.”   “Our WFP teams in Gaza are doing heroic work under conditions that are simply impossible. They are frequently caught in cross-fire, they are stuck in steaming hot cars for 24 hours straight, escorting food convoys through combat zones. We don’t have enough fuel for our vehicles, or spare parts for our trucks or cars, or basic equipment to communicate. And our national staff are not just aid workers—they live here, they face the same dangers, the same hunger as the rest of the population. We can’t continue in these conditions.”   “A ceasefire is urgently needed. We stand ready to deliver - we have the food, the capacity and the systems to assist the entire population in Gaza. During the previous ceasefire, we showed what was possible: delivering over 8,000 trucks of food in only 42 days. We can do it again, but we need all routes and entry points to open, and we need safety and order to be able to reach most vulnerable. The ceasefire must also be the first step toward lasting peace.”   The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reiterated that in the face of massive and ever-increasing humanitarian needs, the Israeli authorities must open all available crossings, fully facilitate humanitarian access inside Gaza, and protect civilians – in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law.   http://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-delivers-food-inside-gaza-amid-restrictions-and-growing-insecurity http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-children-killed-during http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-starvation-or-gunfire-not-humanitarian-response-0 http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/07/1165321 http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1165016 http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164846 http://www.ochaopt.org/publications http://news.un.org/en/tags/gaza   May 2025   Gaza Strip: IPC Acute Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition Special Snapshot | April - September 2025   Nineteen months into the conflict, the Gaza Strip is still confronted with a critical risk of Famine. Over 60 days have passed since all humanitarian aid and commercial supplies were blocked from entering the territory. Goods indispensable for people’s survival are either depleted or expected to run out in the coming weeks. The entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with half a million people (one in five) facing starvation.   From 11 May to the end of September 2025, the whole territory is classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), with the entire population expected to face Crisis or worse acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above).   This includes 470,000 people (22 percent of the population) in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), over a million people (54 percent) in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and the remaining half million (24 percent) in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).   This marks a significant deterioration compared to the previous IPC analysis (released in October 2024) and the already dire conditions detected between 1 April - 10 May 2025. During this time, 1.95 million people (93 percent) were classified in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above), including 244,000 people (12 percent) in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) and 925,000 (44 percent) in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency).   Between 1 April and 10 May, acute malnutrition (AMN) was at Alert and Serious levels (IPC AMN Phase 2 and 3). However, experience has shown that acute malnutrition can worsen rapidly, and latest data indicate a deteriorating trend that is expected to persist. Consequently, acute malnutrition in North Gaza, Gaza and Rafah governorates will likely reach Critical levels (IPC AMN Phase 4) between 11 May and end of September.   Between mid-January and mid-March 2025, the ceasefire allowed a temporary alleviation of acute food insecurity and malnutrition conditions in parts of the Gaza Strip. However, the ongoing blockade imposed in early March reversed the situation. Since 18 March, the escalating conflict has displaced over 430,000 people, further disrupted access to humanitarian assistance, markets, health, water and sanitation services, and caused additional damage to remaining essential infrastructure.   All 25 bakeries supported by the World Food Programme (WFP) closed at the beginning of April due to lack of supplies, and food stocks for most of the 177 hot meal kitchens are reportedly exhausted.   All preventive nutrition supplies have run out in UNICEF and WFP warehouses. Food prices are soaring daily, with wheat flour ranging from USD $235 per 25 kg in Deir al-Balah to USD $520 in Gaza and Khan Younis - a 3,000 percent increase since February 2025. Latest data show many households resorting to extreme coping strategies. A third reported collecting garbage to sell for food, while a quarter indicated that no valuable garbage remains. Observations reveal that social order is breaking down.   The plan announced on 5 May by Israeli authorities for delivering food and non-food items across the governorates is estimated to be highly insufficient to meet the population’s essential needs for food, water, shelter and medicine.   Moreover, the proposed distribution mechanisms are likely to create significant access barriers for large segments of the population. In light of the announced large-scale military operation across the Gaza Strip and the persistent inability of humanitarian agencies to deliver essential goods and services, there is a high risk that Famine (IPC Phase 5) will occur in the projection period (11 May – 30 September). The latest announcements suggest that this worst-case scenario is becoming more likely.   Immediate action is essential to prevent further deaths, starvation and acute malnutrition, and a descent into Famine. This entails ending hostilities, ensuring unrestricted humanitarian access, restoring essential services and commercial flows, and providing sufficient lifesaving assistance to all in need.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-124/en/ http://www.wfp.org/news/risk-famine-across-all-gaza-new-report-says http://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-calls-security-council-act-decisively-prevent-genocide-gaza http://www.who.int/news/item/12-05-2025-people-in-gaza-starving--sick-and-dying-as-aid-blockade-continues http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unimaginable-horrors-more-50000-children-reportedly-killed-or-injured-gaza-strip http://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/news/2025/05/un-women-estimates-over-28000-women-and-girls-killed-in-gaza-since-october-2023   http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1163926 http://www.icrc.org/en/statement/israel-and-occupied-territories-red-cross-field-hospital-unprecedented-influx-war-wounded-gaza http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/israel-and-occupied-territories-icrc-urges-protection-of-civilians-unhindered-humanitarian-assistance http://www.savethechildren.net/news/news-quote-let-us-do-our-jobs-and-deliver-aid-safely-gazas-starving-population http://www.savethechildren.net/news/news-quote-gaza-aid-must-not-be-turned-tool-control-rather-relief http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/05/turk-deplores-gaza-escalation-pleads-global-action-stop-more-killings   http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/joint-donor-statement-humanitarian-aid-gaza http://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/26/Tv/video/amanpour-buttu http://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/23/Tv/video/amanpour-tom-fletcher-un-gaza-aid http://www.unocha.org/news/briefing-note-un-coordinated-plan-resume-humanitarian-aid-deliveries-gaza   http://theelders.org/news/elders-call-collective-action-governments-end-palestinian-suffering-gaza http://www.huffpost.com/entry/israel-former-prime-minister-ehud-olmert-war-crimes-gaza_n_68333494e4b0b20a268ade65 http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/bond-responds-uk-france-canada-statement-and-joint-donor-statement-gaza http://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/oxfam-reaction-announcement-israel-will-allow-limited-amount-aid-gaza http://cafod.org.uk/news/media/press-releases/gaza-food-supplies http://actionagainsthunger.ca/story/avert-humanitarian-catastrophe-gaza/ http://plan-international.org/news/2025/06/02/israeli-aid-blockade-hits-three-month-mark/   2 May 2025   UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the situation for children in the Gaza Strip after two months of aid blockade:   “For two months, children in the Gaza Strip have faced relentless bombardments while being deprived of essential goods, services and lifesaving care. With each passing day of the aid blockade, they face the growing risk of starvation, illness and death – nothing can justify this.   “Families are struggling to survive. They are trapped, unable to flee in search of safety. The land they used to farm has been destroyed. The sea they used for fishing has been restricted. Bakeries are closing, water production is declining, and market shelves are almost bare. Humanitarian aid has provided the only lifeline for children, and now it is close to running out.   “In the past month, over 75 per cent of households have reported deteriorating access to water – they don’t have enough water to drink, are unable to wash their hands when needed, and often forced to choose between showering, cleaning, and cooking.   “Vaccines are quickly running out and diseases are spreading – especially acute watery diarrhoea, which now accounts for 1 in every 4 cases of disease recorded in Gaza. Most of these cases are among children under five, for whom it is life-threatening.   “Malnutrition is also on the rise. More than 9,000 children have been admitted for treatment of acute malnutrition since the beginning of the year. Hundreds more children in desperate need of treatment are not able to access it due to the insecurity and displacement.   “International humanitarian law requires authorities to ensure that the population under their control is treated humanely. This not only includes ensuring that civilians have the food, medicine, and essential supplies they need, but also ensuring sufficient hygiene and public health standards. All parties to the conflict must allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance. And they must allow and facilitate all relevant UN entities to carry out those activities for the benefit of the local population.   “UNICEF remains in the Gaza Strip, doing what we can to support and protect children. But the aid blockade and more than 18 months of war are pushing Gaza’s children to the brink. We reiterate our call for the aid blockade to be lifted, for the entry of commercial goods into Gaza, for the release of the hostages, and for the protection of all children.”   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-situation-children-gaza-strip http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-124/en/ http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/05/gaza-un-child-rights-committee-condemns-mass-starvation-children-amid-aid http://www.unocha.org/publications/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/humanitarian-situation-update-286-gaza-strip http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/05/gaza-un-anti-racism-committee-decries-halt-food-aid-urges-immediate http://www.ohchr.org/en/media-centre/news-situation-occupied-palestinian-territory-israel-and-lebanon http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/press-releases/half-of-gazas-children-now-malnourished-as-humanitarian-aid-remains-blocked/ http://www.mercycorps.org/blog/gaza-is-starving http://www.careinternational.org.uk/news-stories/blockade-in-gaza-we-hope-this-hell-were-living-in-will-end-soon/ http://plan-international.org/blog/2025/03/24/the-true-cost-of-war-gaza-ceasefire-fail/   25 Apr. 2025   WFP runs out of food stocks in Gaza as border crossings remain closed.   The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has depleted all its food stocks for families in Gaza.   Today, WFP delivered its last remaining food stocks to hot meals kitchens in the Gaza Strip. These kitchens are expected to fully run out of food in the coming days. For weeks, hot meal kitchens have been the only consistent source of food assistance for people in Gaza. Despite reaching just half the population with only 25 percent of daily food needs, they have provided a critical lifeline.   WFP has also supported bakeries to distribute affordable bread in Gaza. On March 31, all 25 WFP-supported bakeries closed as wheat flour and cooking fuel ran out. The same week, WFP food parcels distributed to families – with two weeks of food rations – were exhausted. WFP is also deeply concerned about the severe lack of safe water and fuel for cooking – forcing people to scavenge for items to burn to cook a meal.   No humanitarian or commercial supplies have entered Gaza for more than seven weeks as all main border crossing points remain closed. This is the longest closure the Gaza Strip has ever faced, exacerbating already fragile markets and food systems. Food prices have skyrocketed up to 1,400 percent compared to during the ceasefire, and essential food commodities are in short supply raising serious nutrition concerns for vulnerable populations, including children under five, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the elderly.   More than 116,000 metric tons of food assistance – enough to feed one million people for up to four months – is positioned at aid corridors and is ready to be brought into Gaza by WFP and food security partners as soon as borders reopen.   The situation inside the Gaza Strip has once again reached a breaking point: people are running out of ways to cope, and the fragile gains made during the short ceasefire have unravelled. Without urgent action to open borders for aid and trade to enter, WFP’s critical assistance may be forced to end.   WFP urges all parties to prioritize the needs of civilians and allow aid to enter Gaza immediately and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.   http://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-runs-out-food-stocks-gaza-border-crossings-remain-closed http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1162651 http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1162656 http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/turk-calls-world-prevent-total-humanitarian-catastrophe-gaza-enar http://uk.ambafrance.org/France-condemns-Israeli-strikes-on-Gaza-Strip-and-calls-for-resumption-of http://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/news/2025/05/105900/gaza-worst-case-scenario-unfolds-brutal-aid-blockade-threatens-mass http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/israel-and-occupied-territories-after-two-months-aid-blockage-humanitarian-response-verge-collapse http://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/israels-new-ingo-registration-measures-are-grave-threat-humanitarian-operations http://www.ochaopt.org/content/statement-humanitarian-country-team-occupied-palestinian-territory-principled-aid-delivery-gaza http://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-calls-end-gaza-blockade-says-aid-must-never-be-bargaining-chip http://news.un.org/en/tags/gaza http://reliefweb.int/country/pse   7 Apr. 2025   World must act with urgency to save Palestinians in Gaza   (Statement by heads of OCHA, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNRWA, WFP, WHO and IOM)   "For over a month, no commercial or humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza. More than 2.1 million people are trapped, bombed and starved again, while, at crossing points, food, medicine, fuel and shelter supplies are piling up, and vital equipment is stuck.   Over 1,000 children have reportedly been killed or injured in just the first week after the breakdown of the ceasefire, the highest one-week death toll among children in Gaza in the past year.   Just a few days ago, the 25 bakeries supported by the World Food Programme during the ceasefire had to close due to flour and cooking gas shortages.   The partially functional health system is overwhelmed. Essential medical and trauma supplies are rapidly running out, threatening to reverse hard-won progress in keeping the health system operational.   The latest ceasefire allowed us to achieve in 60 days what bombs, obstruction and lootings prevented us from doing in 470 days of war: life-saving supplies reaching nearly every part of Gaza.   While this offered a short respite, assertions that there is now enough food to feed all Palestinians in Gaza are far from the reality on the ground, and commodities are running extremely low.   We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life. New Israeli displacement orders have forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee yet again, with no safe place to go.   No one is safe. At least 408 humanitarian workers, including over 280 from UNRWA, have been killed since October 2023. With the tightened Israeli blockade on Gaza now in its second month, we appeal to world leaders to act – firmly, urgently and decisively – to ensure the basic principles of international humanitarian law are upheld.   Protect civilians. Facilitate aid. Release hostages. Renew a ceasefire.   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/world-must-act-urgency-save-palestinians-gaza http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/more-million-children-gaza-strip-deprived-lifesaving-aid-over-one-month http://www.ochaopt.org/content/secretary-general-remarks-press-gaza http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1161951 http://www.wfp.org/news/hunger-looms-again-gaza-wfp-food-stocks-begin-run-out   24 Mar. 2025   OCHA reports that as hostilities continue across the Gaza Strip, the Israeli closure of all crossings for incoming cargo has entered its 20th day – the longest such shutdown since 7 October 2023.   This latest closure is having a devastating impact on people already facing catastrophic conditions. Each passing day further erodes the progress made by the UN and its humanitarian partners in the six weeks after the ceasefire.   Beyond the depletion of stocks, OCHA warns that humanitarian operations are now being severely hampered by hostilities. Civilians, including aid workers, and civilian assets have come under attack.   The UN is seeking concrete assurances for the safety of its staff and operations in Gaza, following the killing of six UN personnel and injury of several others this week, including in the attack on a clearly designated UN compound.   UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, “All parties to the conflict are bound by international law to protect the absolute inviolability of UN premises, without this, our colleagues face intolerable risks as they work to save the lives of civilians ”.   Mr. Dujarric said the UN Secretary-General is demanding a full, thorough and independent investigation into Wednesday’s deadly strike. "The Secretary-General strongly condemns these strikes and demands a full, thorough and independent investigation on this incident. All parties must comply fully with international law at all times. Civilians must be respected and protected. The denial of lifesaving aid must end. The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally”.   As attacks continue across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip, OCHA warns that the steady flow of trauma injuries is putting even more pressure on an already shattered healthcare system. UN humanitarians have described deadly attacks hitting health workers, ambulances and hospitals.   Relief chief Tom Fletcher reported that he was continuing to receive horrific reports from Gaza of more health workers, ambulances and hospitals attacked as they try to save survivors. Mr. Fletcher said under international humanitarian law hospitals and medics must never be targeted.   Senior UN humanitarian in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jonathan Whittall, said that hundreds of children and adults have been killed since the ceasefire broke down between Hamas and Israel.   "183 children among the hundreds and hundreds of people killed — that number should shock the world, it should prompt action," UNICEF's Rosalia Bollen told the reporters. She said the toll on Palestinian children who have so far survived the strikes was serious.   "It's even more nerve wracking for children who've been through 15 long months of relentless bombings and very toxic stress, and now all of that trauma is rapidly being reactivated," Ms Bollen said.   "The kids that I've been speaking to these past six months, they frequently talk about death — they say that they're afraid of dying, they're very afraid that their parents die and that they'll be on their own."   Humanitarian partners estimate that more than 120,000 Palestinians – about 6 per cent of the surviving population in Gaza – have been displaced once again this week, driven by intensified attacks and new Israeli evacuation orders across the Strip.   “Families carry what little they have with no shelter, no safety, and nowhere left to go; the Israeli authorities have cut off all aid,” UNRWA said in a statement – warning that food is scarce as the Israeli blockade continues.   Gaza health officilas reported that over 50,000 people have been killed and over 110,000 injured during the conflict, with the majority being women and children.   http://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-urges-international-action-protect-civilians-gaza http://www.unocha.org/news/todays-top-news-occupied-palestinian-territory-sudan-haiti-ukraine http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/least-322-children-reportedly-killed-gaza-strip-following-breakdown-ceasefire http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/statement-commissioner-lahbib-attacks-health-personnel-hospitals-and-aid-workers-gaza-0 http://www.ifrc.org/press-release/ifrc-condemns-killing-eight-palestine-red-crescent-medics-gaza http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/press-briefing-un-women-collapse-gaza-ceasefire-and-its-devastating-impact-women-and-girls http://www.acaps.org/en/countries/archives/detail/palestine-end-of-ceasefire-and-blockade-in-gaza   18 Mar. 2025   Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the attacks in Gaza:   “Reports and images emerging from the Gaza Strip following today’s attacks are beyond horrifying. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed, including more than 130 children, representing one of the largest single-day child death toll in the last year.   “Some of the strikes reportedly hit makeshift shelters with sleeping children and families, another deadly reminder that nowhere is safe in Gaza.   “The latest attacks come as lifesaving aid remains blocked from entering Gaza, compounding the risks to children.. Today, Gaza’s one million children – who have endured more than 15 months of war – have been plunged back into a world of fear and death. The attacks and the violence must stop – now.   “We urge all parties to immediately reinstate the ceasefire, and we call on countries with influence to use their leverage to ensure the situation does not further deteriorate. International humanitarian law must be respected by all parties, allowing the immediate provision of humanitarian aid, the protection of civilians, and the release of all hostages.”   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-attacks-gaza http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/palestinian-children-remain-deprived-most-essential-supplies-and-services http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/03/1161246 http://news.un.org/en/tags/gaza http://www.unocha.org/news/renewed-airstrikes-gaza-un-relief-chief-urges-restoration-ceasefire http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/gaza-renewed-bombardment-humanitarian-freefall http://reliefweb.int/country/pse http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/03/comment-un-human-rights-chief-volker-turk-israeli-airstrikes-gaza http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/israel-and-occupied-territories-icrc-warns-worsening-humanitarian-crisis-gaza http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/stoppage-humanitarian-aid-deliveries-gaza-strip-unicef-warns-severe-consequences http://www.ifrc.org/press-release/statement-without-access-aid-gaza-strip-peoples-lives-are-knife-edge-once-again http://www.nrc.no/news/2025/march/suspension-of-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza-will-lead-to-more-suffering   21 Jan. 2025   Aid is entering Gaza in line with the ceasefire agreement that has seen Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners released and families reunited, but massive needs remain across the devastated enclave. (UN News)   On day three of the ceasefire which entered into force on Sunday 19 January, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, welcomed the “surge” in lifesaving humanitarian assistance into the enclave, after 15 months of devastating conflict.   More than 900 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Monday, as the truce held between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas, according to the ceasefire’s guarantors. While the conflict raged, prompted by Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, the aid lifeline to Gaza dwindled to as little as 50 trucks per day.   “At long last, aid at scale is entering,” said Mr. Laerke. “At long last, more hostages were released and can be reunited with their families and at long last, women and minors were freed from detention..”   Immediate priorities include “getting food in, opening bakeries, getting healthcare, restocking hospitals, repairing water networks, repairing shelter, family reunification,” the OCHA spokesperson told journalists. “A lot of the things that we have done throughout, but nowhere near at the scale needed. And that is what we hope and work towards to be able to do now.”   UN humanitarians have long maintained that the entire population of Gaza – more than two million people – depends on such essentials. They include children, who account for about half of the Strip’s population, “with many surviving on just one meal a day”, said OCHA.   “We have to – and we will – maximize delivery through this opening. Hunger is widespread, people are homeless; disease, injuries are rampant. Children are separated that needs to be dealt with.”   Urgent health needs must also be addressed across Gaza where one in two hospitals are not functional, others are only partially functional and the majority of health facilities have sustained damage, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO).   “The idea is as quickly as possible to try to provide health facilities to people of Gaza, focusing on emergency care, maternal and child health and other areas,” said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic.   “We've been talking to 25,000 people who have sustained life changing injuries. These people need rehabilitation services that are not available right now.”   UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said; “With the ceasefire in place, displaced Palestinians have been making their way back home, with many returning to find mountains of rubble”. He added that over 90 per cent of housing units in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed over the past 15 months.   “Given the scale of destruction and needs in Gaza, we are working to get vital aid to people as fast as humanly possible. We also urge Member States and partners to ensure that our aid operations are fully funded to meet the overwhelming needs”.   The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) underscored that it remains committed to staying in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and providing vital assistance and services to people in need.   http://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-deputy-executive-director-calls-urgent-action-rebuild-gaza-after-visit http://news.un.org/en/tags/gaza http://news.un.org/en/audio/2025/02/1160166 http://news.un.org/en/audio/2025/01/1159226 http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1159351 http://palestine.un.org/en/289328-mass-displacement-palestinians-northern-west-bank-source-growing-concern http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/escalation-west-bank-violations-surge-amid-fragile-ceasefire-gaza http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements   19 Jan. 2025   Hunger in Gaza: First aid trucks roll in as ceasefire takes effect - World Food Programme   World Food Programme (WFP) trucks have started crossing into Gaza after the ceasefire came into effect. WFP aims to get at least 150 trucks into Gaza daily if conditions allow. This is a critical moment for the international community to reach desperate and hungry families in Gaza at scale. But a ceasefire is only the start.   WFP welcomes the agreed ceasefire announced Wednesday (15 January). We emphasize that this is only the start – not the end – of what’s needed to reach desperate and hungry families in Gaza. WFP calls on all parties to do what is in their power to halt any further fighting and ensure safe humanitarian access - the war has left more than 2 million people fully dependent on food assistance, homeless, and without any income.   The needs in Gaza are immense. Recovery will require a full-scale humanitarian response with all agencies coming together, including UNRWA, to provide lifesaving assistance to 2 million people.   WFP has enough food pre-positioned along the borders and on its way to Gaza to feed over a million people for three months. UNRWA has enough supplies to support another million. For WFP, this includes food parcels, wheat flour, commodities for hot meals, and nutrition supplements.   To make a meaningful impact on the food security of people in Gaza, WFP needs the international community to scale up funding.   WFP can send around 1,600 trucks of food (30,200 tons) each month to facilitate distributions for over 1 million people. In order to reach everyone in need, UNRWA’s support is critical. WFP is committed to bolstering UNRWA’s food assistance delivery efforts.   All parties need to ensure the safe passage of aid and humanitarian staff across Gaza. Commercial flows to Gaza need to be restored and cash liquidity accessible for the population so they can buy fresh food and other basic necessities. Ceasefire conditions must be respected.   WFP’s goal is to provide immediate food aid, re-stock bakeries, and provide nutrition supplements for children. To reach people and make a meaningful impact, WFP also urgently need the international community’s support with funding, so we that can increase capacity and sustain our humanitarian staffing.   Barely any food has gone into besieged North Gaza for more than two months. Winter cold and rain are further reducing people’s ability to survive.   Food security in Gaza has been worsening, with people becoming weaker by the day; there is almost no fresh food (fruit, vegetables, meat, fish), shops are empty, bakeries have been unable to operate, lacking fuel, flour or both.   The humanitarian response in Gaza has faced continuing challenges and setbacks. The disregard for international humanitarian principles has placed humanitarian staff, operations, and the people of Gaza at increasing risk.   WFP and humanitarian partners call on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and allow for the safe passage of aid.   http://www.wfp.org/stories/hunger-gaza-first-aid-trucks-roll-ceasefire-takes-effect http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/secretary-general-urges-parties-make-good-gaza-deal-calls-release-all-hostages-permanent-ceasefire http://www.reuters.com/pictures/what-gaza-looks-like-today-after-15-months-war-2025-01-21/ http://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/15/the-devastating-impact-of-15-months-of-war-on-gaza http://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8x00mgjxmo   15 Jan. 2025   Gaza ceasefire deal agreed by Israel and Hamas, Qatar and US say. (News agencies)   Israel and Hamas have agreed to a Gaza ceasefire and partial hostage release deal following 15 months of war, mediators Qatar and the US say.   Many Palestinians and Israeli hostages' families celebrated the news, but there was no let up in the war on the ground in Gaza.   Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Israel says 94 of the hostages are still being held by Hamas, of whom 34 are presumed dead.   More than 46,700 people have been killed in Gaza and over 106,000 injured since the start of the conflict, according to the territory's health ministry. Most of the 2.3 million population has been displaced multiple times, there is widespread destruction, and severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter.   The first six-week phase of the ceasefire deal, which he said would see Israeli 33 hostages - including women, children and elderly people - exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.   Israeli forces will also withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza, displaced Palestinians will be allowed to begin returning to their homes and hundreds of aid lorries will be allowed into the territory each day to meet the desperate needs of the population.   The big challenge is making sure the ceasefire holds. Senior diplomats fear that after the first phase of 42 days the war could resume. It is also not known whether Israel will agree to completely pull out of Gaza, or whether its presence there will be open-ended.   http://www.unocha.org/news/gaza-ceasefire-offers-hope-stakes-remain-high-says-un-relief-chief http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1159031 http://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22523.doc.htm http://www.unicef.org/lac/en/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-russell-announcement-ceasefire-gaza http://www.savethechildren.net/news/gaza-any-pause-must-become-definitive-ceasefire-protect-children-and-allow-life-saving http://www.wfp.org/stories/gaza-ceasefire-wfp-calls-sustained-opening-humanitarian-corridors http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/01/un-human-rights-chief-relieved-gaza-ceasefire-urges-prompt-implementation http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/icrc-president-icrc-ready-help-implement-agreement-reached-parties-and-bring-hostages   http://www.nrc.no/news/2025/january/gaza-ceasefire-must-lead-to-lasting-truce-and-trigger-massive-aid-expansion http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/gaza-ceasefire-must-propel-humanitarian-action http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/press-releases/as-ceasefire-in-gaza-is-declared-action-against-hunger-calls-for-increased-humanitarian-aid/ http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/gaza-ceasefire-465-days-and-46000-lives-too-late http://www.bond.org.uk/news/2025/02/there-is-nothing-left-standing-in-gaza-life-expectancy-halved/ http://www.care-international.org/news/long-awaited-gaza-ceasefire-must-end-bloodshed-ushers-hope-scaled-assistance http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-ceasefire-does-nothing-tackle-root-causes-conflict-says-christian-aid http://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/oxfam-welcomes-gaza-ceasefire-and-calls-massive-influx-aid http://www.hrw.org/news/2025/01/15/gaza-ceasefire-action-needed-end-atrocities   26 Dec. 2024   Statement by UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Edouard Beigbeder on continued deaths of children in Gaza:   “In the final days of the year, there seems to be no end in sight to the deadly threats to children in Gaza. Over the past three days, at least eleven children have reportedly been killed in attacks. Now, we are also witnessing children dying from the cold and a lack of adequate shelter.   “2024 has been a year of unimaginable hardship for families in Gaza. Beyond the constant threat of attacks, many live without adequate shelter, nutrition, or healthcare. Cold injuries, such as frostbite and hypothermia, pose grave risks to young children in tents and other makeshift shelters that are ill-equipped for freezing weather. For newborns, infants, and medically vulnerable children, the danger is even more acute.   “UNICEF teams on the ground continue to work tirelessly, distributing winter clothing, blankets, and emergency supplies to children. But the ability of humanitarian agencies to deliver life-saving aid at the scale required remains severely restricted. In November, an average of 65 truckloads of assistance entered Gaza daily, far too little to adequately address the urgent needs of children, women and other civilians. The most northern part of Gaza has now been under a near-total siege for more than two months.   “Safe and unrestricted humanitarian access to and within the Gaza Strip to reach affected populations wherever they are, including in the north, is critical. All access crossings must be opened, including for sufficient fuel and materials needed to run and rehabilitate essential infrastructure and commercial supplies. Safe movement for humanitarian workers and supplies across the Gaza Strip must be guaranteed to safely reach the communities in desperate need.   “As we approach a new year, children have the right to a future free from fear and full of promise. This begins with an immediate, durable ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and a renewed commitment to work together to address the urgent needs of children and their families.”   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-regional-director-middle-east-and-north-africa-edouard-beigbeder http://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-our-effort-save-lives-survivors-gaza-breaking-point http://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-calls-international-community-break-cycle-violence-gaza http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1158746 http://www.wfp.org/news/statement-shooting-wfp-convoy-gaza   6 Dec. 2024   Statement by UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Director Edouard Beigbeder, on the killing of children in Nuseirat and Al Mawasi, Gaza:   “In a single day of bloodshed, children in different parts of the Gaza Strip were reportedly killed while sheltering inside their tents or desperately queueing for a piece of bread amid a rapidly worsening food crisis.   "On Wednesday, an airstrike in Nuseirat Camp, central Gaza, reportedly claimed the lives of four children near a local food distribution point. They were among civilians lining up for a meal until bombs started falling from the sky. Three boys and a girl aged 5 to 11.   “Similarly, an airstrike reportedly hit 40 tents that evening in Al Mawasi, a unilaterally designated “humanitarian zone,” causing a massive explosion and fires.   At least 22 people were reportedly killed, including eight children, with dozens more injured. Their piercing screams, engulfed in flames as they ran for their lives, will haunt humanity's conscience for generations to come.   “This grim week was preceded by the horrific events of last week, when two children and a woman were reportedly crushed to death while waiting in line outside a bakery in central Gaza. Hungry children swept up by despair.   “Day after day, week after week for nearly 14 months now, Gaza has been nothing short of hell on Earth. No child should have to endure such atrocities and carnage, and no parent should have to bury their child. Gaza has become a graveyard for children and families.   “The overall humanitarian response in Gaza is teetering on the brink of full collapse. The lives of virtually all children are at risk or have been shattered by unimaginable trauma, loss, and deprivation. Their safety and access to essential humanitarian aid are not being facilitated as explicitly demanded by international law.   “We call on the parties to the conflict to facilitate the delivery of much-needed aid by humanitarian actors into and throughout Gaza, and to take all necessary measures to ensure they always receive the required protection, in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law.   “With at least 50,000 children affected by acute malnutrition in Gaza - and hundreds of thousands displaced multiple times - no child queuing for a piece of bread or sheltering in a temporary tent should be trampled to death or killed by an airstrike. The ongoing normalization of such horror needs to turn into action to stop it. Enough is enough.”   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-middle-east-and-north-africa-regional-director-edouard-beigbeder-0 http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/cold-sick-and-traumatized-ongoing-nightmare-children-gaza http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-children-and-continued http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/12/1158406 http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/regular-attacks-put-gaza-schools-turned-shelters-frontlines-war http://www.savethechildren.net/news/nowhere-safe-gaza-attacks-north-and-hospital-ablaze-south-put-lives-children-and-families-risk http://www.icrc.org/en/statement/icrc-humanitarian-aid-remains-urgent-necessity-alleviate-tide-suffering-gaza http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-114/en/   1 Nov. 2024   Statement by Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee - Stop the assault on Palestinians in Gaza and on those trying to help them:   We the leaders of 15 United Nations and humanitarian organizations urge, yet again, all parties fighting in Gaza to protect civilians, and call on the State of Israel to cease its assault on Gaza and on the humanitarians trying to help.   The situation unfolding in North Gaza is apocalyptic. The area has been under siege for almost a month, denied basic aid and life-saving supplies while bombardment and other attacks continue. Just in the past few days, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and thousands have once again been forcibly displaced.   Hospitals have been almost entirely cut off from supplies and have come under attack, killing patients, destroying vital equipment, and disrupting life-saving services. Health workers and patients have been taken into custody. Fighting has also reportedly taken place inside hospitals.   Dozens of schools serving as shelters have been bombed or forcibly evacuated. Tents sheltering displaced families have been shelled, and people have been burned alive.   Rescue teams have been deliberately attacked and thwarted in their attempts to pull people buried under the rubble of their homes.   The needs of women and girls are overwhelming and growing every day. We have lost contact with those we support and those who provide lifesaving essential services for sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence.   And we have received reports of civilians being targeted while trying to seek safety, and of men and boys being arrested and taken to unknown locations for detention.   Livestock are also dying, crop lands have been destroyed, trees burned to the ground, and agrifood systems infrastructure has been decimated.   The entire Palestinian population in North Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence.   Humanitarian aid cannot keep up with the scale of the needs due to the access constraints. Basic, life-saving goods are not available. Humanitarians are not safe to do their work and are blocked by Israeli forces and by insecurity from reaching people in need.   In a further blow to the humanitarian response, the polio vaccination campaign has been delayed due to the fighting, putting the lives of children in the region at risk.   And this week, the Israeli Parliament adopted legislation that would ban UNRWA and revoke its privileges and immunities. If implemented, such measures would be a catastrophe for the humanitarian response in Gaza, diametrically opposed to the United Nations Charter, with potential dire impacts on the human rights of the millions of Palestinians depending on UNRWA’s assistance, and in violation of Israel’s obligations under international law. Let us be very clear: There is no alternative to UNRWA.   The blatant disregard for basic humanity and for the laws of war must stop. International humanitarian law, including the rules of distinction, proportionality and precautions, must be respected. IHL obligations do not depend on reciprocity. No violation by one party ever releases the other from its legal obligations.   Attacks against civilians and what remains of civilian infrastructure in Gaza must stop.   Humanitarian relief must be facilitated, and we urge all parties to provide unimpeded access to affected people. Additionally, commercial goods must be allowed to enter Gaza.   The wounded and sick must receive the care they need. Medical personnel and hospitals must be spared. Hospitals should not turn into battlegrounds. Unlawfully detained Palestinians must be released. Israel must comply with the provisional orders and determinations of the International Court of Justice.   Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups must release the hostages immediately and unconditionally and must abide by international humanitarian law.   Member States must use their leverage to ensure respect for international law. This includes withholding arms transfers where there is a clear risk that such arms will be used in violation of international law.   The entire region is on the edge of a precipice. An immediate cessation of hostilities and a sustained, unconditional ceasefire are long overdue.   http://interagencystandingcommittee.org/inter-agency-standing-committee/statement-principals-inter-agency-standing-committee-stop-assault-palestinians-gaza-and-those-trying Visit the related web page
	New NATO defence commitments must not come at cost of human rights by Agnes Callamard Secretary General of Amnesty International   23 June 2025   As NATO states meet in the Hague this week, they face tough decisions that will impact the lives of millions, or even billions, around the world. If, as widely expected, they commit to increased defence spending in response to Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine, they must ensure this is allied with strong commitments and actual measures to enhance protection of human rights and international humanitarian law.   Given the gravity of the crises engulfing the world and the need to seize every opportunity to demand that human rights protection be central to all responses, I will be representing Amnesty International at the NATO Public Forum that runs parallel to the summit, in which leaders and officials will engage with security experts, academics, journalists and NGOs.   Upon launching Amnesty’s annual report a few weeks ago, I declared it the strongest warning the organization has ever issued. There are more conflicts raging today than at any time since World War Two, inequality is rampant – both within and between states – and states are hurtling into an unchecked arms race, in the first place artificial intelligence-powered. Without concerted and comprehensive action from governments, this historic juncture will mutate into historic devastation.   When NATO leaders sit down to discuss such challenges, they must carefully consider their responsibility to humanity.   Progressive taxation, no austerity measures, to fund increased defence budget   The Trump administration is pressuring its NATO allies to increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP – more than double the existing target of 2%. This would likely consist of 3.5% directly on military expenditure and another 1.5% on civil defence, cyber, intelligence and military-related infrastructure. Any such increases must not be paid for by cutting vital funds needed to guarantee and protect essential public services or humanitarian aid and development assistance.   Instead of pulling the rug from under the feet of those most in need of support, states should raise the requisite funds by introducing more progressive domestic taxation measures for the wealthiest and supporting global tax reform to ensure those with the broadest shoulders pay their fair share.   NATO leaders should also state loudly and powerfully that people do not have to choose between security and the protection of social, economic and political rights. This is a false dichotomy. Security and rights go hand in hand.   Galvanise commitment to international law   Respect for international humanitarian law is in deep crisis with many governments either claiming that the principles and rules of international humanitarian law do not apply to them or rewriting the rules to allow conducts that should not be permissible. Israel’s ongoing horrendous conflict in Gaza is compounded by the failures of its main allies to stop transferring weapons or condemn war crimes and the indescribable civilian bloodshed. Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine resulted in more Ukrainian civilians killed in 2024 than it did the previous year.   NATO leaders must not only reiterate their commitment to uphold international law and demand that their allies respect the laws of war. The summit should result in a set of concrete measures to ensure that international humanitarian law is respected.   NATO leaders should halt weapons transfers where they are likely to result in violations of international law, such as Israel and Sudan, for example. Increased military production is no excuse for states to transfer arms to countries where they pose a substantial risk of being used to commit or facilitate war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.   Protect international treaties   The trend towards remilitarization has seen states withdraw from vital treaties protecting civilians. Lithuania’s unprecedented withdrawal from the Convention on Cluster Munitions took effect in March 2025 and its parliament voted in May to also withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, a landmark treaty prohibiting the use of anti-personnel mines. Finland announced its withdrawal from the latter treaty in April, while Estonia and Latvia’s parliaments also voted to pull out in recent weeks. Poland’s Minister of Defence has recommended doing the same. The USA, which is not a signatory to either convention, has further undermined prohibition efforts, with the Biden administration transferring cluster munitions and anti-personnel mines to Ukraine last year.   NATO leaders must reiterate their commitment to these treaties, which are vital to protecting civilians in armed conflicts, and call on their allies to reconsider their withdrawals.   Regulate development of autonomous weapon systems   Remilitarization is also driving ever-greater use of artificial intelligence in the military domain and will likely accelerate the development of autonomous weapons systems, potentially nullifying years of efforts towards their regulation.   This arms race highlights the imperative to move on from endless debates around autonomous weapons systems and take immediate action to actually prevent us from sleepwalking into oblivion. NATO governments must adopt a clear collective position in favour of a global, legally binding treaty to regulate the development and deployment of autonomous weapons systems, including banning those that directly target and attack humans – a line we cannot cross, for myriad legal and ethical reasons.   Reaffirm respect for rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly   Over the last year, Amnesty has documented a globalized intensification of authoritarian practices and a vicious clampdown on dissent, particularly in relation to conflicts and violations of international law. Governments across the world banned media outlets, disbanded or suspended NGOs and political parties, and imprisoned critics.   The world over, Amnesty has documented the criminalization and punishment of freedom of expression and peaceful protests, including through use of “terrorism” or “extremism” legislation.   The protection of universal values and human rights must be at the heart of the NATO vision and actions. This is how its founders envisioned the alliance when they reaffirmed in its treaty “their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations”. This protection is what all citizens may expect it to deliver.   NATO leaders must recognize the critical role played by civil society, human rights defenders and independent media in protecting human rights and ensuring accountability and respect for rule of law – all necessary elements for preserving peace and security.   They must commit to allowing peaceful protests and guaranteeing the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as stopping the oppression of NGOs and recognizing their essential role in society. Governments must also protect human rights defenders and journalists from attacks, end any state-sponsored violence against them, and refrain from harassing or censoring independent media.   These are the basic steps states must take to ensure the preservation of peace and security at home and globally. Anything less and NATO leaders will be paving the way for future crises. They cannot achieve genuine and lasting security without robust human rights guarantees.   * NATO’s leaders agreed to invest 5 percent of their countries’ gross domestic product (GDP) on “core defence requirements as well as defence and security-related spending by 2035”. The 5 percent headline includes 1.5 percent spent on military-related infrastructure, which could be broadly defined to include civilian expenditure. Last year, NATO spent $1.5 trillion on the military – more than half of global military spending. If members comply with the core 3.5 percent target by 2030, that would mean a total of $13.4 trillion in military expenditure.   The money will be diverted – most of all from social spending - public services, like health, and education, social welfare supports – even as 30 percent of Europeans report difficulty in making ends meet, with global humaitarian needs ever increasing while humanitarian aid funding is slashed and climate scientists warn that we have only two years left to keep temperature increases below the international target of 1.5 degrees Celsius (34.7 degrees Fahrenheit).   Social and environmental spending is already on the chopping block. In February, the United Kingdom announced it would reduce its aid budget to 0.3 percent of GDP to pay for military spending increases – a year after it won an election committing to increase foreign aid. Belgium, the Netherlands and France followed suit, announcing aid cuts of 25 to 37 percent. The United States, under Trump, has decimated its overseas aid and climate programmes and reduced healthcare funding while proposing a record $1 trillion expenditure on the Pentagon.   http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/06/new-nato-defence-commitments-must-not-come-at-cost-of-human-rights/ Visit the related web page
	View more stories