UN Chiefs Urge Immediate Global Action to Prevent Further Catastrophe in Gaza.
Over 2.1 Million Trapped Without Aid as Death Toll Soars and Humanitarian Access Collapses.
NEW YORK:
In an unprecedented show of unity, the heads of seven major United Nations agencies have issued a powerful and urgent appeal to world leaders, demanding immediate and decisive action to avert a deepening humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.
In a joint statement, the leaders of OCHA, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNRWA, WFP, WHO, and IOM warned that Gaza’s 2.1 million residents are “trapped, bombarded, and starving” under Israel’s intensified blockade, with humanitarian and commercial supplies stranded at border crossings and no safe refuge available within the territory.
“For over a month, no commercial or humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza,” the agencies said. “Essential food, medicine, fuel, and shelter items are piling up at crossing points while vital equipment remains stuck. Meanwhile, inside Gaza, desperation grows by the hour.”
The joint statement follows the collapse of a recent ceasefire that had briefly enabled humanitarian access. Since its breakdown, over 1,000 children have reportedly been killed or injured in just one week – marking the deadliest seven-day period for children in Gaza over the past year.
Health Systems Crippled, Food Supplies Depleted
The humanitarian leaders painted a grim picture of conditions inside Gaza. Hospitals and clinics, already decimated by months of conflict, are overwhelmed and running dangerously low on trauma and medical supplies. The World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to shut down 25 bakeries due to critical shortages of flour and cooking gas, worsening an already dire food crisis.
“The latest ceasefire allowed us to achieve in 60 days what bombs, obstruction, and looting had blocked for 470 days,” the statement read. “But this brief window did not solve the crisis. Claims that there is enough food in Gaza are misleading and dangerous — essential commodities are running out fast.”
Mass Displacement and Unprecedented Humanitarian Toll
New Israeli evacuation orders have triggered further mass displacement, forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee once again. The UN noted that there is “no safe place to go,” with shelters overwhelmed and living conditions deteriorating rapidly.
The conflict has also exacted a devastating toll on humanitarian personnel. Since October 2023, at least 408 humanitarian workers have been killed — more than 280 of them UNRWA staff — making this one of the deadliest conflicts for aid workers in the United Nations’ history.
“We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life,” the statement declared. “No one is safe.”
Call to Uphold International Law and Protect Human Life
In their concluding remarks, the UN leaders reiterated the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and urged global leaders to take immediate action to:
- Protect civilians
- Facilitate humanitarian aid
- Release all hostages
- Renew and uphold the ceasefire
The joint statement was signed by:
- Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA)
- Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF
- Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director, UNOPS
- Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, UNRWA
- Cindy McCain, Executive Director, WFP
- Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO
- Amy Pope, Director General, IOM
As conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate at alarming speed, the call from the UN’s top humanitarian officials is stark: The time to act is now — before even more lives are lost.
