Title: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Deepens as UN Relief Efforts Stalled
The United Nations (UN) faces another setback as its efforts to provide relief supplies to the Gaza Strip, a region affected by a devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas, come to a halt. Despite a symbolic resolution by the UN Security Council calling for a humanitarian pause in the conflict that has claimed numerous lives, the resolution lacks the necessary teeth to ensure compliance.
The resolution, which took 46 days to pass, received support from the Council members seeking to demonstrate their commitment to addressing the crisis. However, it carried no penalties for non-compliance, making enforcement impossible. The United States, while abstaining from voting, did not fully endorse the resolution as it failed to meet their demands for condemning Hamas or affirming Israel’s right to self-defense.
Since the conflict began, over 12,000 lives have been lost, predominantly civilians and children. Israel reported approximately 1,200 casualties, while the Hamas-controlled enclave of Gaza witnessed the deaths of 11,078 people, including many children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
During the 28 days leading up to the resolution, international opinion shifted with growing support for a ceasefire. The United States, motivated by public pressure and aware of the changing sentiment, allowed the resolution to pass despite its lack of enforcement capabilities. Alongside the US, Britain also refrained from vetoing or supporting the resolution.
Meanwhile, within Gaza, the situation worsens as relief supplies run dry due to a lack of fuel and a communication shutdown. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), responsible for delivering vital aid such as food, medicine, and education, is struggling without the necessary resources. The closure of border crossings further exacerbates the crisis, leaving Gaza dependent on external supplies for food, water, and fuel.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his efforts to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, campaigned relentlessly for at least one border crossing to remain open. However, Israeli concerns over Hamas potentially utilizing fuel for attacks on Israel led to restrictions and ultimately halted relief operations. Consequently, UNRWA vehicles and machinery now lack the fuel to distribute aid, and telecommunications operators have shut down due to fuel shortages.
In response to the dire situation, the United Nations General Assembly convened to receive briefings from senior officials on the scale of devastation in Gaza. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the violence and stressed that the killing of civilians should never be accepted as collateral damage. Similarly, Martin Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, highlighted the need to uphold humanitarian laws, particularly regarding the protection of hospitals.
As the conflict rages on, with ongoing violence surrounding the Shifa Hospital, the World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed his horror at the situation. The interruptions to essential medical treatment, impacting vulnerable individuals with conditions such as cancer, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, are further aggravating the crisis.
The UN’s efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza face numerous challenges, leaving the region’s population of 2.2 million people in desperate need of assistance. With limited fuel supplies and communication disruptions obstructing relief operations, the situation remains dire. International actors, including the UN Security Council, must work towards a solution that addresses the immediate needs of the affected population while striving for a sustainable and lasting peace in the region.
