On the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip
On 22 August, following the release of new data showing record levels of hunger in the Gaza Strip — indicating the highest stage of food insecurity — UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher issued sharply critical statements.
Mr Guterres described the situation in Gaza as “living hell” and once again reminded Israel of its obligations, as the occupying power, to provide the population with food. Mr Fletcher stressed that famine was used as a weapon of war and that it could have been avoided had Israel not obstructed the delivery of humanitarian supplies.
On 21 August, at the press briefing in Geneva, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Philippe Lazzarini likewise drew attention to the desperate plight of the people of Gaza, saying that “many of them will not survive”. He characterised the situation in the enclave as bordering on “genocide” and equated the mass displacement of the population with ethnic cleansing.
According to forecasts, by the end of September famine is expected to spread to the provinces of Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah. The rapidly deteriorating conditions in the Palestinian enclave could threaten the lives of 132,000 children under the age of five, of whom 41,000 are suffering from severe malnutrition — a figure that has doubled since May of this year. The alarming assessments voiced by senior UN officials regarding the situation in Gaza cannot but shock.
The Russian side is calling on the Israeli authorities to take urgent measures to prevent any further deterioration, to cease fire, to restore unimpeded humanitarian access, and to ensure the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance — including food — to all those in need.
In the coming period, UN Security Council member states are expected to make another attempt to agree a draft resolution on Gaza, focusing on overcoming the humanitarian catastrophe. Russia hopes that such a document will be adopted this time.