UN Chief: 'Gaza needs an immediate & sustained increase in humanitarian aid' | United Nations

Adolf Goebbels
Published on Nov 30, 2023
Briefing by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council, “we need a true humanitarian ceasefire,” adding that a failure of establishing a two-State solution “will condemn Palestinians, Israelis, the region and the world, to a never-ending cycle of death and destruction.”

In his remarks to the Council today (29 Nov), Guterres said that Resolution 2712 was approved in a context of widespread death and wholesale destruction unleashed by the conflict in Gaza and Israel.

He stressed the inviolability of United Nations facilities which today are sheltering more than one million civilians seeking protection under the UN flag.

UNRWA shares the coordinates of all its facilities across the Gaza Strip with all parties to the conflict, Guterres added.

The agency has verified 104 incidents that have impacted 82 UNRWA installations – 24 of which happened since the adoption of the resolution. A total of 218 internally displaced people sheltering in UNRWA schools have reportedly been killed and at least 894 injured.

“Let me put it plainly,” the UN chief highlighted, “Civilians – including United Nations personnel – must be protected. Civilian objects – including hospitals – must be protected. UN facilities must not be hit.”

He reiterated, “International humanitarian law must be respected by all parties to the conflict at all times.”

Guterres also said that the level of aid to Palestinians in Gaza remains completely inadequate to meet the huge needs of more than two million people. And although the total volume of fuel allowed into Gaza has also increased, it remains utterly insufficient to sustain basic operations.

He said, “Civilians in Gaza need a continuous flow of life-saving humanitarian aid and fuel into and across the area. Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need is critical.”

Referring to the Security Council resolution 2712 calls for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups.”

Guterres noted that the arrangement announced on 22 November has so far led to the release, over 5 days, of 60 hostages – 29 women, 31 children – held by Hamas and other groups since 7 October. Outside the arrangement during the same period, another 21 hostages were released.

He reiterated, “This is a welcome start. But as I have been saying from day one, all hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. Until then, they must be treated humanely and the International Committee of the Red Cross must be allowed to visit them.”

The arrangement also saw the release of 180 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Israeli jails, mostly women and children.

The Secretary-General also noted that Gaza needs an immediate and sustained increase in humanitarian aid including food, water, fuel, blankets, medicines and healthcare supplies.

He said, “That is why we have been urging the opening of other crossings, including Kerem Shalom, and the streamlining of inspection mechanisms to allow for the necessary increase of lifesaving aid. But humanitarian aid alone will not be sufficient. We also need the private sector to bring in critical basic commodities to replenish completely depleted shops.”

Full remarks: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2023-11-29/secretary-generals-remarks-the-security-council-the-middle-east-delivered