As violence in the Middle East intensifies, the United Nations has issued a dire warning regarding the “apocalyptic” situation in North Gaza. On Friday, UN and civil society leaders called for an immediate cessation of attacks and urged Israel to allow humanitarian aid to reach vulnerable civilians, highlighting the deteriorating conditions in the region.
In a social media post, the UN stated, “The situation unfolding in North Gaza is apocalyptic,” emphasizing the urgency for ceasefire actions to prevent further civilian harm.
The United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), responsible for coordinating humanitarian action, condemned the restriction of essential supplies and the growing death toll in Gaza. The IASC’s latest statement revealed that hospitals are nearly depleted of supplies and under assault, leading to patient fatalities and critical equipment losses. With health services disrupted and healthcare workers facing detention, the risk to Gaza’s civilian population has become severe.
According to the IASC, the lack of access has hampered essential humanitarian operations, leaving life-saving supplies unavailable to the residents of North Gaza. Humanitarian workers face substantial barriers in reaching affected areas due to security constraints. The ongoing conflict has also forced a delay in the region’s polio vaccination campaign, placing thousands of children at heightened risk.
The UN reiterated its demand for all involved parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. To ensure the safety of aid operations, the organization has urged Israel to comply with International Court of Justice directives and to cease actions that prevent humanitarian relief from reaching Gaza’s civilians.
In addition, the IASC urged Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, to release hostages immediately and adhere to international humanitarian laws. Member states were also encouraged to withhold arms where they might be used in violation of these laws.
With the situation deteriorating rapidly, the United Nations and IASC have called on member states to use diplomatic influence to ensure adherence to international law and provide unimpeded access to humanitarian aid.
