During a briefing to the UN Security Council (UNSC), the humanitarian representative warned that nearly 350,000 children under the age of five are at risk of starvation in Gaza following months of deliberate denial of humanitarian access.
Severe malnutrition is not a “quiet or painless death,” Soeripto warned while insisting on other challenges facing civilians in Gaza including access to sanitation or lack of education.
“If humanitarian workers are given safe access and a cease-fire, we can save lives,” Soeripto acknowledged after describing horrors of several visits paid to Gaza under Israeli siege.
Despite dangers, humanitarians return to work because they believe civilians in conflict have the right to access basic necessities for survival, Soeripto added.
However, aid organizations are overwhelmed by obstacles and a lack of priority to human lives.
Soeripto called on UNSC for a resolution for a permanent ceasefire, including robust measures to ensure compliance by the warring parties.
At the same time, he demanded UNSC member states to end arms sales that fuel hostilities along with a plan to fund and rebuild critical infrastructure in Gaza.
“What happens in this room does matter, for accountability, for setting standards that we expect everyone to respect,” he remarked with a call for political will to use everything within reach.
During the meeting, Ramesh Rajasingham, representative of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, assured that last week the UN and partners delivered a daily average of food assistance to 550,000 people in Gaza.
However, they were only able to deliver 4% of that amount to Gaza and other areas in the north of the Strip, where Israel Defense Forces are blocking access.
The UN official called for greater entry for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and all impartial humanitarian organizations in a safe, swift and unimpeded manner to all civilians in need.
“This tragedy cannot be allowed to continue,” he added.
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