Director of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Ramesh Rajasingham, said the events of the last week alone are evidence of the unconscionable brutality of the conflict in Gaza, which so far has led to the killing of more than 32,000 civilians and the wounding of over 75,000 others.
He said addressing the UNSC that the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers who were killed despite informing the Israeli army of their movements and after having just unloaded more than 100 tons of much-needed lifesaving humanitarian supplies from the second World Central Kitchen maritime aid shipment to a warehouse in Deir al Balah, join more than 220 of humanitarian colleagues who have been killed, 179 of them UN personnel.
“Allegations of serious violations must be investigated, and the suspects prosecuted,” he stressed.
He said during the UNSC meeting, which was held at the request of Algeria, that all Member States can and must use their leverage to prevent and stop violations of international humanitarian law — through diplomatic and economic pressure, conditioning arms exports on compliance with the rules of war, and cooperation in combating impunity.
“The undeniable lack of protection for aid missions has forced World Central Kitchen and at least one other aid organization — the NGO “ANERA” — to suspend their operations, he reported, warning that “Gaza is teetering on the edge of famine, if it hasn’t already fallen into it,” he added.
Detailing the dire situation of Gazans who are relying on woefully inadequate food assistance to survive, he urged immediate concerted action, stressing that “waiting for a retrospective famine classification is entirely indefensible.”
The UN Relief Agency, UNRWA, and all impartial humanitarian organizations must have safe, rapid and unimpeded access to all civilians in need, he said, stressing: “There is simply no replacement for the services UNRWA provides.” Pointing to the ongoing death and destruction in Gaza despite the international community’s efforts to date.
Janti Soeripto, President and Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children USA, said that to date, 203 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza; the highest number of humanitarian casualties in modern times, adding: “They died serving their communities in, perhaps, the worst conditions of their lives, of their careers.”
More children have been killed in this conflict than in all armed conflicts globally over the past four years, she added, noting that after months of deliberate humanitarian access denial, children are dying from malnutrition and dehydration. “Almost 350,000 children under the age of 5 are at risk of starvation as we speak,” she said, stressing that severe malnutrition is not a “quiet or painless death”.
Recognizing that aid organizations are overwhelmed with impediments and human lives are not being prioritized, she continued: “Give humanitarians safe access and a ceasefire, and we can save lives.”
While resolutions passed in the Security Council Chamber do not immediately lead to changing behavior on the ground, she noted that “what happens in this room does matter, for accountability, for setting standards we expect everyone to abide by.”
The representative of Algeria said a killing machine is acting with total impunity in Gaza. The crime perpetrated against World Central Kitchen’s personnel is not an exception, he said, citing chef Jose Andres, founder of that organization, who said it was an attack that targeted them “systematically, car by car”.
Why do these seven deaths get apologies from the highest occupying authorities but not the thousands of innocent Palestinians massacred during these six months? he asked. “The answer is the dehumanization of Palestinians.”
Humanitarian workers cannot be asked to serve at the peril of their lives, he said, adding that the famine in Gaza will be worsened with the decision to freeze the World Central Kitchen’s operations and the maritime corridor from Cyprus, even as the occupying Power persists in its campaign to dismantle UNRWA.
Source: WAFA
