The UN condemned Israel’s deadly escalation in Gaza City, warning of mass civilian suffering as starvation and displacement worsened in the besieged enclave.
Dujarric reiterated the appeal "for the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel and full respect for international law" made by the United Nations.
"We condemn the deadly escalation of the Israeli military offensive, which we saw over the weekend across Gaza City, with scores of people reportedly killed or injured. As you can imagine, this is having an appalling impact on civilians enduring suffering and starvation,"
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a press conference.
Noting that international organizations "monitoring the movements of people in Gaza counted almost 70,000 displacements heading south, primarily to Deir al-Bala and Khan Younis," he stated that "in the past month, partners observed about 150,000 movements from north to south."
He further highlighted the deteriorating humanitarian situation and said:
"Our partners report that 1/3 of malnutrition treatment facilities in Gaza City have already shut down due to forced displacement orders."
In addition, Dujarric stated that "more than half of the ambulances are now out of service, with a very limited number of ambulances to serve thousands of people." Clinics in Deir al-Bala have also halted operations.
"Of the 17 missions that our teams coordinate with the Israeli authorities, only four were facilitated,"
he said, citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
"Our humanitarian colleagues are still calling for unhindered humanitarian access,"
he emphasized. Aid should enter and exit Gaza, especially the north, via a number of borders.
While drawing attention to the local infrastructure problems, Dujarric indicated that "77% of road networks in Gaza have been affected, with the worst damage in Gaza and Khan Younis governorates."
What is the mechanism for delivering humanitarian assistance in conflict?
Most assistance comes to Gaza via three established border crossings: Rafah with Egypt, Karem Abu Salem with Israel, and Erez Hanoun. All border crossings are currently operational.
Land transportation continues to be the most efficient and sustainable for transiting larger supplies of food, medical supplies, and other relief items.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society is active throughout Gaza, distributing emergency relief items which may include but are not limited to, food parcels, hygiene kits, blankets, and tents.
The distribution of assistance will be coordinated with Egyptian Red Crescent work at the Egypt-Gaza border.
The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) is coordinating the physical assistance to ensure it will be delivered effectively to the needs in the affected areas. UNRWA and other UN agencies will also provide direct assistance to Palestinian refugees and other vulnerable groups.