UNITED NATIONS, Oct 15 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned the large number of civilian casualties inflicted by Israeli forces amidst their intensifying military campaign in northern Gaza.
\nIsraeli forces struck tents sheltering displaced civilians near al Aqsa hospital, in an area where people from northern Gaza were told to relocate, according to a UN report. At least four people were burned to death, and scores of others, including women and children, suffered severe burns.
\nJust hours earlier, another strike on a school turned shelter in Nuseirat killed more than 20 people and injured scores of others, the report said.
\n\u201cThe Secretary-General] strongly urges all parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law and emphasizes that civilians must be respected and protected at all times,\u201d UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at the regular press briefing in New York.
\nIn the past two weeks, over 50,000 people have been displaced from the Jabalia area, which is cut off, while others remain stranded in their homes amid increased bombardment and fighting.
\nThe military operation has also forced the closure of water wells, bakeries, medical points and shelters, as well as the suspension of protection services, malnutrition treatment services, and temporary learning spaces.
\nHospitals have also witnessed an influx of trauma injuries.
\nAlso on Monday, Joyce Msuya, the acting UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said that \u201cthere seems to be no end to the horrors that Palestinians in Gaza are forced to endure.\u201d
\nShe cited the strike near al Aqsa hospital and the school-turned-shelter in Nuseirat, stressing that \u201cthere really is no safe place in Gaza for people to go.\u201d\u009d
\n\u201cThese atrocities must end. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be protected.\u201d\u009d
\nMeanwhile, escalating violence in the region is having a disastrous impact on food security for thousands of Palestinian families.
\nAccording to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), major crossings into north Gaza have been closed and no food aid has entered since 1 October.
\n\u201cThe north is basically cut off and we\u2019re not able to operate there,\u201d said Antoine Renard, WFP Country Director for Palestine.
\n\u201cWFP has been on the ground since the onset of the crisis. We are committed to delivering life-saving food every day despite the mounting challenges, but without safe and sustained access, it is virtually impossible to reach the people in need.\u201d\u009d
\nThe agency\u2019s last remaining food supplies in the north, including canned food, wheat flour, high-energy biscuits, and nutrition supplements, have been distributed to shelters, health facilities and kitchens in Gaza City and three shelters in North Gaza.
\nIf the conflict continues to escalate at the current scale, it is unclear how long these limited food supplies will last and the consequences for fleeing families will be dire, WFP warned.
\nThe situation in southern and central Gaza is also at a \u201cbreaking point\u201d due to insecurity surrounding the crossing points, WFP added.
\nFood distributions have ceased entirely and bakeries are struggling to secure wheat flour, putting them at risk of shutting down any day. Some hot meal kitchens are still providing meals to those able to access them.
\n\u201cAs winter approaches, Gazans find themselves without adequate shelter, no fuel and very little aid,\u201d WFP said, underscoring the urgent need for safe and sustained access to deliver life-saving food assistance.
\nMore crossing points must be opened, and security ensured for staff and partners working to deliver aid, the agency added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 15 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned the large number of civilian casualties inflicted by Israeli forces amidst their intensifying military campaign in northern Gaza. Israeli forces struck tents sheltering displaced civilians near al Aqsa hospital, in an area where […]<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":115155,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-115154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-world-news"],"yoast_head":"\n