“Today, I am sounding the alarm again. A military operation in Rafah could lead to genocide in Gaza. It could also leave an already fragile humanitarian operation on the brink of death.” said in a statement Tuesday.
He said more than 1 million people were now crammed into the city and “a scenario we have feared for many years is unraveling at an alarming rate”.
Faced with death, they have little to eat, little medical care, nowhere to sleep or safe place to go.
end the war
Mr Griffith says that for more than four months, humanitarian workers have been working in near-impossible efforts to help people in need in Gaza, despite the dangers they face and their own trauma. I thought back on what I had done.
“But no amount of dedication and goodwill will be enough to keep millions of people alive, fed and protected as bombs fall and aid backs up. There is widespread despair, a breakdown in law and order, and the defunding of UNRWA,” he said, referring to the UN agency that supports the Palestinian people.
As a result, humanitarian workers have been shot, held at gunpoint, attacked and killed. They lack security guarantees, aid, and personnel capacity to continue operations.
“The international community has warned of the dangerous consequences of a ground invasion of Rafah. The Israeli government cannot continue to ignore these calls. History will not be kind. This war must end. ” his statement concluded.
Ukraine: Attacks on energy facilities continue
Turning to Ukraine, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that attacks on energy facilities continued on Tuesday.
In the Dnipropetrovsi region in the east of the country, after two days of strikes against energy facilities, local authorities reported a new attack on a thermal power plant overnight.
OCHA said in a humanitarian update that the strike had caused hospital evacuations and school closures due to low temperatures in affected areas.
Damage to energy facilities was also reported in Donetsk, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson and Sumy regions.
“On the front lines, our humanitarian partners continue to support communities whose access to critical services is severely disrupted by active hostilities,” OCHA said.
In the town of Siversk, Donetsk Region, aid organizations helped install a filtration station to provide clean water to people without access to gas, water or electricity due to the destruction of critical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, as the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches, there are growing concerns that fighting will increase dramatically, with devastating effects on civilians.
“We remain concerned about the escalating trajectory of this war, including the escalation of attacks on civilians and actions that may further narrow the prospects for a just and durable solution,” said Miroslav Gencha, United Nations Ministry for Political and Peacebuilding. said the Assistant Secretary-General for Europe. Secretariat (DPPA) told the Security Council on Monday.
Syrian returnees face serious rights violations: UN report
Many Syrians who fled war in their homeland face human rights violations and abuses at the hands of the government, de facto authorities and other armed groups upon their return, a new report from the UN human rights office OHCHR finds. It became clear.
Documented violations and abuses include arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, sexual and gender-based violence, enforced disappearances and kidnappings.
People have also been extorted of money and possessions, had their property confiscated, and been denied identification and other documents.
“This report highlights the alarming situation of the suffering of returnees, especially women, as the number of forced returns of Syrians from other countries increases,” said UN Human Rights Representative Leitz Volker Türk. .
A returnee who was detained for a week by government security forces along with her two daughters while attempting to leave Syria for the second time said her family had to pay a $300 bribe to hasten their release. .
The report calls on parties to the conflict to fully respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
The Syrian government and all other parties to the conflict are also urged to allow UN agencies and other international and non-governmental organizations unhindered access to monitor the condition of returning Syrians.