UN officials say ‘atrocities must end’ in Gaza

UN officials say ‘atrocities must end’ in Gaza

Leading United Nations officials have demanded “an end to the appalling human suffering and humanitarian catastrophe” in the Gaza Strip nearly one year into the war between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas.

“These atrocities must end,” they said on Monday in a statement signed by the heads of UN agencies that included the World Food Programme and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) along with other aid groups as world leaders gathered in New York for the annual UN General Assembly.

“Humanitarians must have safe and unimpeded access to those in need,” they said. “We cannot do our jobs in the face of overwhelming need and ongoing violence.”

The UN has long complained of obstacles to getting aid into Gaza during the war and distributing it amid “total lawlessness” in the besieged Palestinian enclave. Nearly 300 humanitarian aid workers, more than two-thirds of them UN staff, have been killed.

“The risk of famine persists with all 2.1 million residents still in urgent need of food and livelihood assistance as humanitarian access remains restricted,” the UN officials said.

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“Healthcare has been decimated. More than 500 attacks on healthcare have been recorded in Gaza.”