The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Escalation of violence increases civilian suffering in Israel and Palestinian Territories - OCHA
As the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestinians takes an increasingly heavy toll on civilians, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed its deep concern for the effect the conflict is having on people’s access to water, sanitation, and health care, especially in Gaza.
“We are alarmed by the continued escalation of violence in the occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel,” UN OCHA Spokesperson Jeans Laerke said at a press briefing in Geneva today. “The casualty count continues to climb on both sides of the conflict and civilians are suffering,” Laerke added.
The situation appears especially dramatic in the Gaza strip, where fuel and medicines were already scarce, and where shortages affect an estimated two million Palestinians.
“We are in contact with all the relevant actors on the ground so that we can obtain two things: again, access in and out of the Gaza Strip – that’s through the Erez crossing point in the North which has been closed as of 10th of May – and for the goods that we need to get in, in particular fuel. So, these are negotiations that are ongoing”, Jens Laerke said.
OCHA reports that the North Gaza Seawater Desalination Plant is still not operational, affecting an estimated 250,000 people’s access to clean drinking water. Another 230,000 people from Gaza City and Khan Younis have limited access to piped water due to increasing power cuts and the damage to the networks.
“Extensive damage is reported to civilian properties in densely populated areas all over Gaza, with over 200 housing units destroyed or severely damaged”, Laerke reported. “Humanitarian partners working in shelter are supporting displaced families with non-food items and cash support”.
Laerke also said that “education partners inform us that 31 education facilities, including schools, vocational training centres and higher education facilities have been impacted since the start of the escalation.”
According to reports, hundreds of people, many from refugee camps in Gaza, are seeking refuge and shelter in schools run by United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
“UNRWA says that it has experienced in quickly turning its schools into shelters, but the challenge is the pandemic and the risk of people crowding and spreading the virus”, Laerke said. He added that “another major risk is the UNRWA has not yet been able to put in place necessary preparation in these schools-turned-shelters because of the restriction on staff movement in the past two days.”
Humanitarian workers continue to provide assistance on the ground, but the current insecurity limits the delivery of essential services, including needed response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as people are unable to safely access treatment and vaccination facilities.
“We continue to call for an immediate de-escalation of violence across the occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, reminding the parties to the conflict of their obligation to protect civilians and allow access for humanitarian groups to safely provide assistance,” Laerke said.
- Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying.
- Wide shot, podium with speakers in a near-empty Room XIV in line with COVID-19 distancing measures, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “We are alarmed by the continued escalation of violence in the occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel. The casualty count continues to climb on both sides of the conflict and civilians are suffering. In the Gaza Strip, home to an estimated 2 million Palestinians, hostilities are also having an impact on access to water, sanitation, healthcare and the COVID-19 response.”
- Medium shot, attendee with headphones, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “We are in contact with all the relevant actors on the ground so that we can obtain two things: again, access in and out of the Gaza Strip – that’s through the Erez crossing point in the North which has been closed as of 10th of May – and for the goods that we need to get in, in particular fuel. So, these are negotiations that are ongoing.”
- Medium wide shot, attended typing on phone to rear, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “Extensive damage is reported to civilian properties in densely populated areas all over Gaza, with over 200 housing units destroyed or severely damaged. Humanitarian partners working in shelter are supporting displaced families with non-food items and cash support. Education partners inform us that 31 education facilities, including schools, vocational training centres and higher education facilities have been impacted since the start of the escalation.”
- Medium close-up shot, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke talking, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “UNRWA says that it has experienced in quickly turning its schools into shelters, but the challenge is the pandemic and the risk of people crowding and spreading the virus. Another major risk is the UNRWA has not yet been able to put in place necessary preparation in these schools-turned-shelters because of the restriction on staff movement in the past two days.”
- Medium wide shot, attendee sitting in front of laptop, Room XIV, Palais des Nations
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “We continue to call for an immediate de-escalation of violence across the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, reminding the parties to the conflict of their obligation to protect civilians and allow access for humanitarian groups to safely provide assistance.”
- Medium shot, TV broadcasting in foreground and podium with speakers to rear, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- Medium shot, attendee using listening device, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- Wide shot, UNTV camera in foreground and podium with speakers to rear, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | UNITED NATIONS
United Nations agencies staff demonstrate on Place des Nations in Geneva, to denounce their colleagues killed in Gaza since October 2023
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
The world’s water resources face growing pressure from climate change while emergencies related to the vital resource are increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk addressed the Human Rights Council during a meeting on the Israeli strike on negotiators in Qatar on Tuesday. “Israel’s strike on negotiators in Doha on 9 September was a shocking breach of international law, an assault on regional peace and stability, and a blow against the integrity of mediation and negotiating processes around the world,” he said.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF
Gaza: Thirsty and starving, war-battered families face ‘inhumane’ evacuation
As bombs continue to fall on Gaza City as part of the intensifying Israeli military operation, families with starving children are being pushed southwards from one “hellscape” to another, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
New UN Human Rights report finds 10 years of increased suffering repression and fear
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday published a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2014.
1
1
2
Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR
The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body said.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Un nouveau rapport du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme sur la République démocratique du Congo évoque le spectre de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l'humanité dans le Nord et le Sud-Kivu.,
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC
A high-level independent rights probe into the Sudan crisis on Tuesday condemned the many grave crimes committed against civilians by all parties to the war, citing disturbing evidence indicating that they had been “deliberately targeted, displaced and starved”.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Ukraine: ‘Relentless’ attacks rattle health system as winter approaches: WHO
Ambulances attacked, chronically ill patients lacking care and no peace in sight: for millions of Ukrainians, the run-up to another winter of war is just the latest life-or-death challenge they face, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his report on Sri Lanka to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.