UN Warns of Growing Hunger and Desperation in Gaza as Israel’s Ground Operation Continues
October 29, 2023
The United Nations has issued a warning about the “growing hunger and desperation” in Gaza as Israel’s ground operation in the region continues. After weeks of siege and bombardment, civil order is deteriorating, with people resorting to breaking into warehouses to obtain survival essentials.
The United Nations World Food Programme released a statement on Sunday, revealing that some of its aid supplies had been looted in Gaza. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East also reported that “thousands” of people had broken into their warehouses and distribution centers, taking essential items such as wheat flour and hygiene supplies.
In response, the United Arab Emirates, the only Arab country currently holding a seat in the UN Security Council, will seek a binding resolution from other members of the council for an “immediate humanitarian pause” in the fighting. This comes after the United States vetoed a previous draft resolution calling for a humanitarian pause.
The situation in Gaza continues to worsen, with Gaza’s second-largest hospital, Al-Quds Hospital, suffering extensive damage from Israeli airstrikes. The hospital’s departments have been affected, and residents and patients have been exposed to suffocation. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society accused Israel of deliberately launching the airstrikes next to the hospital, forcing staff, displaced people, and patients to evacuate. The World Health Organization has highlighted the endangerment of patients’ lives if the hospital is bombed.
Israeli troops have reportedly advanced over two miles into Gaza, as seen in a video taken on Saturday. The video shows troops placing an Israeli flag on a Gaza resort hotel’s roof, confirming their presence near the Gaza-Israeli border. The ongoing communications blackout in Gaza has limited the flow of information, but service providers have announced a gradual restoration of services.
The situation has also garnered attention from Iran. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated that Israel’s actions “may force everyone to take action.” Concerns have arisen over the possibility of the conflict expanding into a broader Middle East conflict, with clashes already occurring on the northern Israel and southern Lebanon borders.
Amidst the turmoil, aid trucks have managed to cross from Egypt into Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent announced that 10 aid trucks containing food supplies and medical necessities have arrived. However, fuel has not yet been permitted to enter Gaza. Additionally, Doctors Without Borders sent 26 tons of medical supplies to Egypt to support emergency medical response efforts in Gaza.
The death toll in Gaza continues to rise, with the Palestinian Ministry of Health reporting a total of 7,960 deaths. Over 20,000 people have been injured, with 73% of those killed belonging to vulnerable populations, including children, women, and the elderly. The death toll also includes 116 medical personnel.
Video footage obtained by CNN reveals the destruction of a mosque and adjacent houses in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The aftermath of an airstrike showcases extensive damage, with survivors desperately searching through the rubble.
The United States has exerted pressure on Israel to restore connectivity in Gaza. After phone and internet service was cut off, civilians, aid groups, and journalists were left isolated. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized the importance of communication for aid workers, civilians, and journalists to report the ongoing situation in Gaza.
As the ground operation in Gaza proceeds, the international community anxiously awaits a resolution that can alleviate the growing hunger, desperation, and destruction in the region.