OPT Humanitarian Country Team Urges Immediate Ceasefire And Protection From Forced Displacement In Gaza

The United Nations has issued a warning that almost one million Palestinians are now without safe options, as neither the north nor the south of Gaza offers security. The UN has called for an immediate ceasefire and protection against forced displacement.

‘’We are witnessing a dangerous escalation in Gaza city, where Israeli forces have stepped up their operations and ordered everyone to move south. This comes two weeks after famine was confirmed in the city and surrounding areas,'' said the OPT Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in a statement today.

The situation in southern Gaza remains dire despite being declared a "humanitarian" area by Israeli authorities. Effective measures to ensure safety for those moving there have not been implemented. The services available are inadequate for both current residents and new arrivals.

Leaving northern Gaza involves significant costs for transport and safe passage, which many families cannot afford. Roads are difficult to navigate, and finding shelter is challenging, often resulting in sleeping outdoors or in overcrowded sites. Access to food, water, medical care, and sanitation remains a struggle.

The humanitarian aid currently reaching Gaza is insufficient due to ongoing Israeli restrictions. It is crucial to expand access routes to both the north and south of the region. Supply lines for essential resources like fuel and water must remain open to prevent further civilian suffering.

The humanitarian community pledges to stay in Gaza city as long as possible, striving to deliver aid and lifesaving services across the Strip. The international community is urged to act by calling for an immediate ceasefire and upholding international humanitarian law.

International Community's Role

‘’This catastrophe is human-made, and responsibility rests with us all,'' the statement concluded. The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), led by the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, includes UN entities and over 200 NGOs working under agreed humanitarian principles in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

With inputs from WAM