Norwegian Refugee Council condemns Israel, calls for help to end ‘relentless bloodshed’ in Middle East

The Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland, has urged for an immediate de-escalation and cessation of indiscriminate attacks following Israel’s latest bombardment across southern Lebanon.

Egeland condemned the airstrikes, stating they were the most violent in 11 months, targeting residential areas and densely populated neighbourhoods, which will inevitably result in a devastating human toll.

The Norwegian Refugee Council has been vocal about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. With Gaza’s fuel supplies nearly depleted and medicine and food scarce, the situation is dire.

Egeland pointed out the need for humanitarian corridors and pauses to facilitate the safe passage of aid workers and relief supplies into Gaza.

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“Israel’s airstrikes across Lebanese villages and cities on Monday are the most violent in 11 months. Residential areas and densely populated neighbourhoods were bombed, which means the human toll will be immense,” Jan Egeland said in a statement.

“The targeting of civilian areas in southern and eastern Lebanon and northern Israel escalates hostilities to a new and incredibly dangerous level,” he said, while any “further escalation will drive violence and destruction at an immense scale and risk a full-scale regional conflict”.

“Key powers in the region and around the globe must exert every effort to get all sides to stop this relentless bloodshed,” he added.

Egeland‘s plea comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with the conflict in Gaza stretching into its 100th day.

The crisis has claimed over 41,000 Palestinian lives and 1,200 Israeli lives, with more than 10,000 Palestinian children losing their lives.