A few hours ago, we received tragic news from our colleagues on the field. Two family members of our staff in Gaza have died as a result of the bombing and lack of access to treatment.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to our colleagues and their families, we join in their deep sorrow for the loss of their loved ones and in the grief of all the civilians affected by this terrible war that spares nothing and no one.
Three months after the start of the conflict between Hamas and Israel, the toll remains catastrophic. There are over 3.1 million people in need of humanitarian aid nationwide and 1.9 million internally displaced persons (OCHA), over 28,000 victims of this bloody conflict.
The entire Gaza Strip is living in extreme conditions, the shelling and attacks do not cease to strike without discrimination. The entire system of the country is on the verge of collapse: hundreds of schools have suffered extensive damage and 625,000 students no longer have access to education; the health situation is dramatic and the number of functioning hospitals has dropped to 13. Electricity is lacking, fuel is scarce, communications are continually disrupted, a situation that also hampers humanitarian aid.
The food security of the population is severely compromised, the country is on the brink of starvation, and the risk is increasing as hostilities escalate and humanitarian access continues or worsens. About 2.2 million people in Gaza are in a state of severe food insecurity, among them 335,000 children are at risk of severe malnutrition.
The humanitarian situation is catastrophic and life in Gaza has become unbearable. Those who continue to be affected are the most innocent, the civilians who find no escape or salvation. We reiterate the urgency of an unconditional and permanent ceasefire in order to bring aid to all those in need.