UN urges Israel to allow immediate humanitarian access to Northern Gaza as situation worsens
TOPSHOT - A child reacts as people salvage belongings amid the rubble of a damaged building following strikes on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on November 12, 2023, as battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement continue. More than 10,000 people have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, since the war erupted last month after Palestinian militants raided southern Israel on October 7 killing at least 1200 people. (Photo by Mohammed ABED / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)
The United Nations has urgently called on Israel to allow humanitarian access to northern Gaza, warning of escalating famine risks under the ongoing military blockade.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated at a news conference that access to the region “is still extremely limited,” expressing deep concern for the “fate of Palestinians” remaining in the area.
The UN urged Israel to enable humanitarian operations at the scale required to meet “massive needs,” noting the significant obstacles faced by relief efforts.
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In October alone, humanitarian groups submitted 50 requests to Israeli authorities to enter northern Gaza, but 33 were denied, and eight initially approved faced delays or barriers, according to Dujarric.
A recent attempt to evacuate an injured UN staff member from the Jabalia area was also blocked, with Israeli authorities suggesting that the individual could be carried out by relatives on foot, waving white flags for identification.
The UN “urgently calls on Israel to open up the area to humanitarian operations at the scale needed given the massive needs”.
“In October, humanitarian organisations submitted 50 requests to the Israeli authorities to enter [the] north Gaza governorate. Thirty-three of those requests were rejected outright, and eight were initially accepted but then faced impediments along the way,” Dujarric said.
“Attempts to coordinate the evacuation of an injured UN staff member from the Jabalia area was also denied, with Israeli authorities suggesting that this person could attempt to be carried out on foot by relatives waving white flags to identify themselves.”
The UN’s plea highlights the increasing urgency for humanitarian aid access to northern Gaza as the blockade threatens further deprivation among its residents.
Israel’s rampaging attacks on Gaza have killed at least 43,603 Palestinians and wounded 102,929 since October 7, 2023. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that day and more than 200 were taken captive.
