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	Humanitarian Outlook 2026: A world succumbing to war by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)   Dec. 2025   Statement by Elyse Mosquini, Permanent Observer to the United Nations of the International Committee of the Red Cross, at the 60th plenary meeting on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations:   "The number of armed conflicts being fought around the world has more than doubled in the last 15 years, to around 130 today.   All too often, we see the rules of war violated – direct attacks against civilians, children recruited to fight, civilian infrastructure targeted, patients in hospitals slaughtered.   We see sexual violence and starvation used as weapons of war, indiscriminate bombardments of urban centers, killing and maiming. Brutal violations are committed in plain sight, signaling that the unacceptable risks to become normalized.   The human toll is staggering. Civilian casualties in armed conflict are reported to have increased by 40% in 2024 from the previous year, while civilian casualties from explosive weapons of war have reached their highest level in more than a decade. In 700 hospitals supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross, surgical admissions for weapon wounds have increased by almost 50% in 2024.   Conflict is not only becoming more widespread, entrenched, and brutal – but also more deadly for civilians.   Principled humanitarian action, which should bring relief to this suffering, is under increasing pressure. The lines between humanitarian, military, and political agendas are blurring, and “with us or against us” narratives are eroding space for neutrality.   2024 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel, and this trend continues in 2025.   The consequences are catastrophic: when aid cannot reach those in need, civilians face starvation, disease, and preventable death.   All states have an obligation under the Geneva Conventions to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, including to facilitate access for impartial humanitarian action.   What is tolerated today will define how wars are fought tomorrow. The International Committee of the Red Cross urges all states to act to prevent destruction and brutality from becoming our new normal".   Humanitarian Outlook 2026: A world succumbing to war   Armed conflict is now a defining feature of our time. Across continents, the rules and limits that should protect civilians in war are being stretched, ignored or dismantled.   Conflicts are spreading, lasting longer, and becoming more complex. Civilians – the very people international humanitarian law exists to protect – are those who suffer the most.   Even for those who experience war only through the headlines, today’s conflicts are shaping a future that will affect every one of us. The erosion of the rules of war is not confined to distant battlefields; it threatens the stability, security and values that underpin our societies and our lives, no matter where in the world we live.   The Humanitarian Outlook 2026 is the ICRC’s publication accompanying our 2026 global appeals. It provides a forward-looking analysis of emerging humanitarian risks, based on real-world observations from our organization’s operations worldwide.   The Outlook is designed to inform governments, donors and decision-makers about the evolving nature of armed conflict, the humanitarian consequences for civilians, and the priorities required to respond effectively and prevent further suffering.   In Humanitarian Outlook 2026, we draw on our work in more than 100 armed conflicts to warn of four converging trends pushing the world toward deeper instability and human suffering.   The Outlook highlights a stark paradox: as needs rise rapidly, the resources available for principled humanitarian action are under growing strain.The number of armed conflicts continues to climb, reaching around 130 in 2024 - more than double the number just 15 years ago. Over 20 conflicts have lasted for more than two decades, leaving entire generations who have known nothing but war.   Front lines today stretch across physical and digital worlds. The use of drones, artificial intelligence and cyber operations is accelerating and transforming the conduct of hostilities, too often with devastating effects on civilians.   More than 204 million people now live in areas under the full or contested control of armed groups – beyond the reach of state institutions and basic services.   The consequences are severe:   Homes, hospitals, schools and water systems are destroyed. Livelihoods collapse, displacing millions. Families are torn apart: 284,000 people are registered as missing by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – a 70% increase in just one year.   Trend 1: Dehumanization spreading on all fronts   Across many conflicts, the shared sense of humanity that restrains violence is eroding. Dehumanizing language - often echoed by political leaders or amplified through social media - fuels fear, polarizes communities, and justifies violations.   This shift has real consequences. When people are stripped of their dignity through words or policy, the threshold for violence rises. Civilians are misidentified as threats; detainees are denied legal protections; humanitarian workers face suspicion or hostility.   Trend 2: Principled humanitarian action under threat   Humanitarian and medical workers are increasingly targeted, despite protections under international law.   In 2024 alone: 338 attacks against humanitarian workers were recorded. Over 600 attacks struck health facilities and personnel between 2023 and 2024. 25 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff lost their lives in 2025.   Neutral, impartial humanitarian action is being politicized, manipulated or obstructed. Access to people in need remains critically restricted in places such as Gaza and Al-Fashir, leaving civilians without essential assistance.   Trend 3: Victory at any cost, and global responsibility in retreat   Respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is weakening. In many conflicts, military objectives take precedence over the obligation to protect civilian lives.   Hard power is resurging, and multilateral cooperation is at risk. Global defence spending reached 2.7 trillion USD in 2024, while the entire humanitarian system appealed for just 50 billion USD – an amount that still went unmet. This imbalance signals a world preparing for war, not peace.   Trend 4: Humanitarian needs rising, resources strained   At a time when needs are escalating, funding for neutral, impartial humanitarian action is increasingly uncertain. Without sustained support, millions of people risk losing access to essential services, protection, and life-saving assistance.   This widening gap is fundamentally at odds with the scale of human suffering seen across today’s conflicts.   Five calls to action in defense of humanity   States have a decisive role to play in preventing the world from sliding further into unrestrained warfare. The ICRC urges governments to act now:   1. Sustain principled humanitarian action   Provide predictable support for neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian assistance so aid can keep pace with rising needs.   2. Uphold international humanitarian law – and urge allies to do the same   Respect for IHL must remain universal. States must prevent violations, both in their own conduct and among those they support.   3. Counter dehumanization   Reject harmful narratives, misinformation and rhetoric that deepen suffering and normalize brutality.   4. Protect humanitarian workers and medical personnel   Attacks on aid workers are attacks on humanity. States must ensure they can work safely and reach people in need.   5. Work for peace and restore global solidarity   Humanitarian action can alleviate suffering, but only political solutions can end it. States must invest in diplomacy, conflict prevention and humanitarian restraint.   The choice before us   As wars multiply and the cost of destruction exceeds what any society can rebuild, the world cannot afford indifference. Upholding the rules of war is not only a legal obligation - it is a safeguard for our shared humanity.   Together, we can choose restraint over escalation, dignity over dehumanization, and humanity over unbounded violence.   http://www.icrc.org/en/article/humanitarian-outlook-2026 http://www.icrc.org/en/publication/icrc-humanitarian-outlook-2026-world-succumbing-war Visit the related web page
	Gaza Conflict: Civilians must be protected. The denial of lifesaving aid must end by UNICEF, WFP, IPC, OHCA, agencies   17 Dec. 2025   UN agencies, NGOs urge immediate lifting of impediments to aid operations   United Nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) urge the international community to take immediate and concrete actions to press the Israeli authorities to lift all impediments, including the new INGO registration process, that continue to undermine humanitarian operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory or risk the collapse of the humanitarian response, particularly in the Gaza Strip.   INGOs, working in close partnership with the UN and Palestinian organizations, are central to humanitarian operations in the OPT, collectively delivering approximately US$1 billion in assistance each year.   In March, the Israeli authorities introduced a new INGO registration system that fundamentally jeopardizes the continuation of humanitarian operations throughout the OPT. The system relies on vague, arbitrary, and highly politicized criteria and imposes requirements that humanitarian organizations cannot meet without violating international legal obligations or compromising core humanitarian principles. Under the current framework, dozens of INGOs face deregistration by 31 December 2025, followed by the forced closure of operations within 60 days.   While some INGOs have been registered under the new system, these INGOs represent only a fraction of the response in Gaza and are nowhere near the number required just to meet immediate and basic needs. The ongoing re-registration process and other arbitrary hindrances to humanitarian operations have left millions of dollars’ worth of essential supplies - including food, medical items, hygiene materials, and shelter assistance - stuck outside of Gaza and unable to reach people in need.   Pressing ahead with this policy will have far-reaching consequences on the future of the OPT, in addition to threatening a fragile ceasefire and putting Palestinian lives at imminent risk, particularly during winter.   The work of INGOs cannot be replaced, especially after Israeli restrictions imposed on UNRWA have already pushed the humanitarian response inside Gaza to a breaking point.   The UN will not be able to compensate for the collapse of INGOs’ operations if they are de-registered, and the humanitarian response cannot be replaced by alternative actors operating outside established humanitarian principles.   The deregistration of INGOs in Gaza will have a catastrophic impact on access to essential and basic services. INGOs run or support the majority of field hospitals, primary healthcare centers, emergency shelter responses, water and sanitation services, nutrition stabilization centers for children with acute malnutrition, and critical mine action activities.   UN agencies and NGOs reiterate that humanitarian access is not optional, conditional or political. It is a legal obligation under international humanitarian law, particularly in Gaza where Israel has failed to ensure that the population is adequately supplied. Israeli authorities must allow and facilitate rapid, unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief.   They must immediately reverse policies that obstruct humanitarian operations and ensure that humanitarian organizations are able to operate without compromising humanitarian principles. Lifesaving assistance must be allowed to reach Palestinians without further delay.   http://interagencystandingcommittee.org/inter-agency-standing-committee/inter-agency-standing-committee-iasc-statement-revoke-planned-international-ngo-ban-humanitarian http://www.ochaopt.org/content/un-agencies-and-ngos-call-immediate-lifting-impediments-humanitarian-access-and-ngo-operations-occupied http://www.gov.uk/government/news/jointstatementon-the-gaza-humanitarian-response http://www.msf.org/msfs-vital-humanitarian-activities-gaza-risk-israeli-registration-rules http://www.savethechildren.net/news/save-children-calls-urgent-review-new-israeli-registration-rules-affecting-gaza-west-bank http://www.interaction.org/statement/interaction-raises-alarm-over-israels-planned-suspension-of-ngos-in-gaza/ http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/12/outrageous-suspension-numerous-aid-agencies-gaza http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-142/en/   * Among the INGOs impacted are MSF/Doctors without Borders, Save the Children, War Child, Norwegian Refugee Council, CARE International, International Rescue Committee, Action Against Hunger, Mercy Corps, World Vision, Humanity & Inclusion, Oxfam, Caritas Internationalis, ActionAid, Defense for Children International.. Whilst UNRWA's humanitarian work remains threatened.   4 Dec. 2025   Air strikes and shelling continue in Gaza. (UN News)   In Gaza, airstrikes, shelling and daily building detonations continue to be reported near the so-called “Yellow Line,” which cuts across more than half of the territory where Israeli forces remain deployed.   Shifts in the line last week triggered fresh displacement from eastern Gaza City, as winter rains compounded already dire living conditions.   Since the ceasefire took effect in October, more than 774,000 displacement movements have been recorded. Over the past week alone, more than 20,500 movements were registered, driven largely by flooding and insecurity.   Humanitarians warns that winter conditions, overcrowding and repeated displacement are heightening risks for children, older persons, persons with disabilities and female-headed households.   The health system in Gaza remains on the brink of collapse. Although 42 health facilities have reopened or partially resumed services since the ceasefire, 61 per cent of all health service points remain non-functional, placing enormous strain on what remains of the system.   According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), more than 16,500 patients – including around 4,000 children – still require medical evacuation, as the advanced care they need is unavailable inside Gaza.   Food security and nutrition remain critical.   The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that two-thirds of children under five consumed just two or fewer food groups in October, placing the entire under-five population at risk of acute malnutrition.   While food assistance has expanded in recent weeks, shortages of fuel, cooking gas and cash continue to limit access to diverse diets.   The scale of physical destruction is immense. More than 80 per cent of buildings in Gaza are damaged or destroyed, and UN estimates indicate that debris clearance alone could take at least seven years, even with stable access and sufficient funding.   Unexploded remnants of war continue to pose a deadly threat to civilians. Six people were reportedly killed last week, and 10 others injured, in two incidents involving explosive ordnance in Gaza City and Deir Al-Balah.   Despite the magnitude of needs, humanitarian funding remains severely constrained. As of 4 December, only 40 per cent of the $4 billion required for the 2025 response in Gaza and the West Bank had been received. The UN continues to coordinate humanitarian missions within Gaza.   A spike in Israeli military raids and settler violence across the occupied West Bank is driving new displacement, shutting schools and disrupting essential services for tens of thousands of Palestinians, the UN relief coordination office, OCHA said. Large-scale operations in Jenin and Tubas governorates alone affected more than 95,000 Palestinians last week. Settler violence has also remained at high levels. So far this year, OCHA documented 1,680 settler attacks across more than 270 communities.   http://news.un.org/en/tags/gaza http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166505 http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166522 http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166525 http://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/dec/06/bloodshed-was-supposed-to-stop-no-sign-of-normal-life-as-gazas-killing-and-misery-grind-on   29 Oct. 202   The UN Secretary-General calls for all parties to uphold their commitments to the fragile ceasefire. (N News)   “The Secretary-General strongly condemns the killings due to Israeli airstrikes of civilians in Gaza yesterday, including many children,” UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. “He condemns all actions that undermine the ceasefire and endanger civilian lives.”   Mr. Dujarric said Antonio Guterres noted “the importance of the parties’ renewed assurances to implement the ceasefire” and stressed that “these commitments must be upheld in full.” He added that any act that harms civilians or obstructs humanitarian operations “must be avoided.”   The Secretary-General praised the mediation efforts of Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye and the United States, describing their engagement as “critical in sustaining the agreement, preventing further escalation, and enabling increased humanitarian access.”   UN human rights chief Volker Türk condemned the killings adding that the rules of war are clear on the “paramount importance” of protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure. “We must not allow this opportunity for peace to slip from our grasp,” Mr Turk added.   Despite the ceasefire, violence has continued. According to the UN aid coordination office (OCHA), Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Monday and overnight left more than 100 people dead and 250 injured. At the same time, humanitarian agencies are racing to try to scale up life-saving aid.   OCHA said that while aid delivery is increasing, “impediments remain.” For the 60-day humanitarian plan to succeed, “we need the ceasefire to hold,” Mr. Dujarric said, adding that more border crossings, safe routes inside Gaza, and unimpeded access for aid workers are essential.   http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/10/1166220 http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/un-human-rights-chief-says-appalled-deadly-gaza-strikes   9 Oct. 2025   UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal in conflict torn Gaza, calling it a “desperately needed breakthrough” that must mark “the beginning of the end of this devastating war.”   “We have waited far too long for this moment,” he said. “All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be secured. The bloodshed must stop once and for all.”   The United Nations is tasked under the ceasefire plan along with the Red Crescent, with overseeing the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid. Mr. Guterres said UN agencies and its partners were ready to “move now,” with teams and supplies in place to scale up desperately needed food, water, medical and shelter assistance for people inside Gaza.   He stressed the need for “full, safe and sustained access for humanitarian workers” and sufficient funding for recovery efforts. “Immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies and essential commercial materials into Gaza must be ensured", he said. "The suffering must end.”   He said the United Nations would support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, as well as working towards advancing recovery and reconstruction efforts in the devastated Gaza Strip.   Tom Fletcher, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator said: "Saving lives – given the level of needs, the level of starvation, the level of misery and despair – will require a massive collective effort, and that’s what we’re mobilized for".   "For the tens of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis who have lost their lives in the last two years, on October 7th and since, including the hundreds of our humanitarian colleagues who have died trying to save lives; for those who yearn for food, medicine, shelter, security, to be reunited with their families and loved ones; we must act."   World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency stood ready to support Gaza’s shattered health system. “The best medicine is peace,” he said, urging respect for the ceasefire agreement “so the suffering of all civilians finally ends.”   The World Food Programme (WFP) said it was on the ground ready to scale up operations, but underlined there is no time to waste.   Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN’s Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) noted that enough food is ready to be trucked into Gaza to feed the entire population for three months. Adding; “There are also over 660,000 children eagerly waiting to go back to school.. with UNRWA teachers ready to help them rebuild their lives.”   UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged all States to ensure that the ceasefire is implemented in good faith. “All action going forward must be guided by the immediate goals of ending the killing, starvation and destruction,” he said. Mr. Turk called for a “comprehensive process of transitional justice” to ensure accountability for gross human rights violations.   http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/10/1166066 http://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-outlines-60-day-plan-deliver-vital-aid-after-gaza-ceasefire http://www.ochaopt.org/publications http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/turk-says-ceasefire-plan-must-lead-permanent-end-hostilities-full http://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvezzdnmrno http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/unrwa-commissioner-general-gaza-agreement-finally-secure-ceasefire-gaza http://www.unrwa.org/two-years-too-long http://news.un.org/en/tags/gaza   Two Years of Devastation: A Ceasefire brings Hope, but Urgent Aid and Recovery are needed in Gaza. (Mercy Corps, agencies)   "The announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza brings a desperately needed moment of respite after two years of relentless bombardment and humanitarian collapse. While the fighting may stop, the suffering continues. Entire neighborhoods lie in ruins; families remain displaced, people are hungry, and basic services are non-existent.   Gaza is in ruins, and the humanitarian toll is staggering: more than 67,000 people killed and over 169,000 injured or permanently disabled; nearly the entire population displaced; 90% of homes damaged or destroyed; and famine confirmed and spreading. The devastation runs deeper than the numbers: it is visible in the haunted faces of children, the silence of collapsed neighborhoods, and the heartbreak of families torn apart forever.   Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, Mercy Corps Chief Executive Officer:   "We welcome any step that opens the door to increased humanitarian access in Gaza and the release of all deceased and alive hostages, in captivity for two years. The ceasefire is a vital first step, but there is still a mountain to climb. Without a sustained flow of aid and the immediate restoration and reconstruction of essential services, people will continue to struggle to survive amid ongoing famine and malnutrition, and the humanitarian crisis will only deepen.   “The ceasefire is a critical step but now we must urgently surge in immediate, consistent, and safe delivery of life-saving aid: clean water, medicine, nutritious food, and a full re-opening of commercial supplies and cash assistance to rebuild a sense of normalcy. This is a chance for people who have been forced into the most depraved of conditions and circumstances to stabilize, grieve, and reconnect with their communities.   Alongside the delivery of aid, restoring essential services and rebuilding hospitals, schools, and shelters is vital. It is a first step toward helping families rebuild their lives when so many have no home left to return to.   All humanitarian actors need to be allowed to deliver vital aid. Humanitarian organizations urgently need unfettered access, guarantees of safety for aid workers, predictable and sustained entry points for supplies, and functioning communication and transport networks to reach people in need.   “We call on all parties to ensure this ceasefire holds and to prevent any return to the violence that has caused unimaginable loss and suffering for two years. All parties must immediately create conditions for a surge in aid delivery and repairs to critical infrastructure. This is the first step toward ending this catastrophe, we must keep moving forward.”   http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/gaza-ceasefire-urgent-aid-recovery-humanitarian http://www.nrc.no/news/2025/october/gaza-ceasefire-must-mark-end-to-two-years-of-death-and-starvation http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-ceasefire-gaza-strip http://www.savethechildren.net/news/pause-hostilities-crucial-relief-children-gaza-now-it-must-become-definitive-and-lasting http://plan-international.org/news/2025/10/09/gaza-ceasefire-will-save-lives-but-aid-and-lasting-peace-must-urgently-follow/ http://www.msf.org/ceasefire-gaza-humanitarian-aid-must-flow-immediately http://www.icrc.org/en/article/israel-and-occupied-territories-civilian-suffering-gaza-devastating-scale-after-two-years http://www.un.org/unispal/document/unog-press-briefing-14oct25/ http://theconversation.com/with-83-of-its-buildings-destroyed-gaza-needs-more-than-money-to-rebuild-267431 http://unosat.org/products/4205   7 Oct. 2025   Two years of hellish war have devastated Gaza’s children, by Catherine Russell - UNICEF Executive Director:   "For more than 700 days, children in Gaza have been killed, maimed, and displaced in a devastating war that is an affront to our shared humanity. Israeli strikes on Gaza City and other parts of the Gaza Strip continue. The world cannot, and must not, allow this to go on.   “In the last two years, a staggering 64,000 children have reportedly been killed or maimed across the Gaza Strip, including at least 1,000 babies. We don’t know how many more have died due to preventable illnesses or are buried under the rubble.   “Famine persists in Gaza City and is spreading to the south, where children are already living in dire conditions. The crisis of malnutrition, especially among infants, remains shocking. Months without adequate food have caused lasting harm to children’s growth and development.   “The need for a ceasefire could not be more urgent. Since Saturday morning, at least 14 children have reportedly been killed, as intense bombing and shelling by Israel continue to hit Gaza City and other areas.   “UNICEF welcomes all efforts to end the war and chart a path towards peace in Gaza and the region. Any plan must lead to a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief - through all available crossings and routes - at the scale desperately needed by all Gazans, especially children.   “International humanitarian law is clear: we call on Israel to ensure the full protection of the lives of all civilians. Denying humanitarian assistance to civilians is unequivocally prohibited. The principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution must guide all military actions and civilians who cannot, do not, or choose not to evacuate combat areas remain civilians and must always be protected.   “Every child killed is an irreplaceable loss. For the sake of all children in Gaza, this war must end now.”   World Health Organization spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said over 10,000 children in Gaza have been diagnosed with acute malnutrition in the past two months, warning the true toll is likely much higher, as many families in overcrowded shelters cannot reach clinics or hospitals. “Famine is now spreading south as people flee renewed fighting,” he said.   Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:   "Two years on since Hamas and other armed groups carried out those abhorrent attacks targeting civilians in Israel, as I’ve seen and heard from meeting the survivors and the families of those taken, the pain is indescribable. Today, I renew my call for the unconditional, immediate release of all the hostages – and until then, they must be treated humanely.   Civilians everywhere have to be protected. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed. Hundreds of thousands endure starvation and displacement. So we once again renew the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, for all civilians to be protected, and for humanitarian aid to flow freely at the scale that is desperately needed".   Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN aid agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, said that Gazans have lived through “two long years of destruction, displacement, bombardment, fear, death and hunger”.   He called for the release of all hostages and Palestinian detainees, an immediate ceasefire and for the unfettered delivery of humanitarian supplies at scale, including through UNRWA. He also urged accountability for atrocities committed on and after 7 October 2023.   More than 1,250 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed in the terror attacks by Hamas and other armed groups on 7 October 2023 and more than 250 others were taken hostage. More than 66,000 Palestinians have subsequently been killed in the war in Gaza, according to local health authorities.   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/two-years-hellish-war-have-devastated-gazas-children http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-unrwas-lancet-study-reveals-alarming-surge-child-malnutrition-underscores-ipc-famine-confirmation-enar http://www.icrc.org/en/article/two-years-7-october-hostages-must-come-home http://www.icrc.org/en/article/gaza-two-years-statement-sarah-avrillaud   26 Sep. 2025   The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that Israeli forces have stepped up their operations in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, with devastating consequences for civilians. On average, this meant an air strike every eight or nine minutes. Teams on the ground also report shelling, helicopter and quadcopter fire, as well as gunfire towards people waiting for aid. Dozens of people have reportedly been killed and over 200 others injured, according to the Ministry of Health.   People continue to flee, mainly from Gaza city to southern Gaza, where conditions are dire. Yesterday, teams monitoring the movement of people inside the Strip counted about 16,500 displacements from northern Gaza southwards. Still, hundreds of thousands of people remain in Gaza city amid extreme insecurity. They are heavily reliant on humanitarian assistance as more critical services there have been forced to close or move. Meanwhile, humanitarian teams across the Gaza Strip continue to face access denials and heavy impediments – preventing them from providing support at the scale needed.   OCHA stresses the need for Israeli authorities to fully facilitate humanitarian operations, including unimpeded movement into and across the Gaza Strip. It also reminds Israel, Hamas and any armed group that aid workers and their vehicles must not be attacked or denied critical access on the ground.   http://www.unocha.org/news/todays-top-news-occupied-palestinian-territory-sudan-ukraine-10 http://www.unocha.org/news/todays-top-news-occupied-palestinian-territory-lebanon-syria http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165948 http://www.msf.org/msf-forced-suspend-activities-amid-israeli-offensive-gaza-city http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/shoeless-starving-and-nowhere-go-brutal-logic-imposed-gazas-children http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-attributable-unicef-regional-director-middle-east-and-north-africa-edouard   * 24 Sep. 2025. UN WebTV:   High-level event at the UN General Assembly - Call to Action for Palestinian Children in the West Bank and Gaza: http://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1o/k1ogmhm1vv   23 Aug. 2025   Gaza Strip: Famine confirmed in Gaza Governorate, projected to expand (IPC)   As of 15 August 2025, Famine (IPC Phase 5)—with reasonable evidence—is confirmed in Gaza Governorate. After 22 months of relentless conflict, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions characterised by starvation, destitution and death. Another 1.07 million people (54 percent) are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), and 396,000 people (20 percent) are in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).   Between mid-August and the end of September 2025, conditions are expected to further worsen with Famine projected to expand to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. Nearly a third of the population (641,000 people) are expected to face catastrophic conditions (IPC Phase 5), while those in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) will likely rise to 1.14 million (58 percent). Acute malnutrition is projected to continue worsening rapidly.   Through June 2026, at least 132,000 children under five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition—double the IPC estimates from May 2025. This includes over 41,000 severe cases of children at heightened risk of death. Nearly 55,500 malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women will also require urgent nutrition response.   Despite limited data, conditions in North Gaza Governorate are estimated to be as severe—or worse—than in Gaza Governorate.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-134/en/   Remarks on Gaza at the UN press briefing by Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. (Geneva, 22 August 2025):   "Please read the IPC report, cover to cover. Read it in sorrow and in anger. Not as words and numbers but as names and lives. Be in no doubt that this is irrefutable testimony. It is a famine. The Gaza Famine.   It is a famine that we could have prevented, if we had been allowed. Yet food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel. It is a famine within a few hundred metres of food, in a fertile land.   It is a famine that hits the most vulnerable first. Each with a name, each with a story. That strips people of dignity before it strips them of life. That forces a parent to choose which child to feed. That forces people to risk their lives to seek food.   It is a famine that we repeatedly warned of. But that the international media has not been allowed in to cover. To bear witness.   It is a famine in 2025. A 21st century famine watched over by drones and the most advanced military technology in history. It is a famine openly promoted by some Israeli leaders as a weapon of war.   It is a famine on all of our watch. Everyone owns this. The Gaza Famine is the world’s famine. It is a famine that asks ‘but what did you do?’ A famine that will and must haunt us all.   It is a predictable and a preventable famine. A famine caused by cruelty, justified by revenge, enabled by indifference and sustained by complicity.   It is a famine that must spur the world to more urgent action. That must shame the world to do better. It is a famine that therefore also asks ‘… and what now will you do?’   My ask, my plea, my demand to Prime Minister Netanyahu and anyone who can reach him: Enough. Ceasefire. Open the crossings, north and south, all of them. Let us get food and other supplies in, unimpeded and at the massive scale required. End the retribution. It is too late for far too many. But not for everyone in Gaza. Enough. For humanity’s sake, let us in".   http://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-says-gaza-famine-must-spur-world-urgent-action http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/famine-confirmed-first-time-gaza http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unthinkable-gaza-city-has-already-begun http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/09/gaza-un-child-rights-committee-condemns-using-starvation-children-weapon-war http://www.wfp.org/news/famine-confirmed-first-time-gaza http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/08/1165702 http://www.savethechildren.net/news/children-starved-plain-sight-famine-confirmed-gaza-save-children http://www.care.org/media-and-press/famine-confirmed-in-gaza-as-assault-on-gaza-city-looms/ http://www.rescue.org/press-release/all-famine-thresholds-now-surpassed-gaza-city-irc-urges-government-israel-enable-aid http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/un-human-rights-occupied-palestinian-territory-israeli-plan-take-full-control-gaza-city-will-lead-further-killings-and-displacement http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/icrc-president-mass-evacuation-gaza-city-unfeasible-and-incomprehensible http://www.nrc.no/news/2025/september/emptying-gaza-city-drives-civilians-into-starvation-and-forcible-transfer http://www.ochaopt.org/content/when-gaza-burned-children-starved-hospitals-collapsed-did-you-act http://www.ochaopt.org/publications   29 July 2025   IPC ALERT: Worst-case scenario of Famine unfolding in the Gaza Strip   The worst-case scenario of Famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip. Conflict and displacement have intensified, and access to food and other essential items and services has plummeted to unprecedented levels.   Mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths. Latest data indicates that Famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of the Gaza Strip and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City.   Malnutrition has been rising rapidly in the first half of July. Over 20,000 children have been admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition between April and mid-July, with more than 3,000 severely malnourished. Hospitals have reported a rapid increase in hunger-related deaths of children under five years of age.   Immediate action must be taken to end the hostilities and allow for unimpeded, large-scale, life-saving humanitarian response. This is the only path to stopping further deaths and catastrophic human suffering.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-133/en/ http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/un-agencies-warn-key-food-and-nutrition-indicators-exceed-famine-thresholds-gaza http://www.wfp.org/news/un-agencies-warn-key-food-and-nutrition-indicators-exceed-famine-thresholds-gaza http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/ipc-alert-worst-case-scenario-famine-unfolding-gaza-strip-published-29-july-2025 http://www.unocha.org/news/ocha-urges-security-council-summon-courage-end-inhumanity-gaza http://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/israel-threatens-ban-major-aid-organizations-starvation-deepens   23 July 2025   As mass starvation spreads across Gaza, our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away. (Over 100 humanitarian aid agencies)   As the Israeli government’s siege starves the people of Gaza, aid workers are now joining the same food lines, risking being shot just to feed their families. With supplies now totally depleted, humanitarian organisations are witnessing their own colleagues and partners waste away before their eyes.   Exactly two months since the Israeli government-controlled scheme, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, began operating, 109 organisations are sounding the alarm, urging governments to act: open all land crossings; restore the full flow of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items, and fuel through a principled, UN-led mechanism; end the siege, and agree to a ceasefire now.   “Each morning, the same question echoes across Gaza: will I eat today?” said one agency representative.   Massacres at food distribution sites in Gaza are occurring near-daily. As of July 13, the UN confirmed 875 Palestinians were killed while seeking food, 201 on aid routes and the rest at distribution points. Thousands more have been injured.   Meanwhile, Israeli forces have forcibly displaced nearly two million exhausted Palestinians with the most recent mass displacement order issued on July 20, confining Palestinians to less than 12 per cent of Gaza. WFP warns that current conditions make operations untenable. The starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is a war crime.   Just outside Gaza, in warehouses – and even within Gaza itself – tons of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items and fuel sit untouched with humanitarian organisations blocked from accessing or delivering them.   The Government of Israel’s restrictions, delays, and fragmentation under its total siege have created chaos, starvation, and death. An aid worker providing psychosocial support spoke of the devastating impact on children: “Children tell their parents they want to go to heaven, because at least heaven has food.”   Doctors report record rates of acute malnutrition, especially among children and older people. Illnesses like acute watery diarrhoea are spreading, markets are empty, waste is piling up, and adults are collapsing on the streets from hunger and dehydration.   Distributions in Gaza average just 28 trucks a day, far from enough for over two million people, many of whom have gone weeks without assistance.   The UN-led humanitarian system has not failed, it has been prevented from functioning.   Humanitarian agencies have the capacity and supplies to respond at scale. But, with access denied, we are blocked from reaching those in need, including our own exhausted and starved teams.   On July 10, the EU and Israel announced steps to scale up aid. But these promises of ‘progress’ ring hollow when there is no real change on the ground. Every day without a sustained flow means more people dying of preventable illnesses. Children starve while waiting for promises that never arrive.   Palestinians are trapped in a cycle of hope and heartbreak, waiting for assistance and ceasefires, only to wake up to worsening conditions. It is not just physical torment, but psychological. Survival is dangled like a mirage. The humanitarian system cannot run on false promises. Humanitarians cannot operate on shifting timelines or wait for political commitments that fail to deliver access.   Governments must stop waiting for permission to act. We cannot continue to hope that current arrangements will work. It is time to take decisive action: demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire; lift all bureaucratic and administrative restrictions; open all land crossings; ensure access to everyone in all of Gaza; reject military-controlled distribution models; restore a principled, UN-led humanitarian response and continue to fund principled and impartial humanitarian organisations. States must pursue concrete measures to end the siege, such as halting the transfer of weapons and ammunition.   Piecemeal arrangements and symbolic gestures, like airdrops or flawed aid deals, serve as a smokescreen for inaction. They cannot replace states’ legal and moral obligations to protect Palestinian civilians and ensure meaningful access at scale. States can and must save lives before there are none left to save.   http://www.savethechildren.net/news/mass-starvation-spreads-across-gaza-more-100-ngos-make-urgent-plea-allow-life-saving-aid http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/07/as-mass-starvation-spreads-across-gaza-our-colleagues-and-those-we-serve-are-wasting-away http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/08/1165582 http://www.ochaopt.org/content/un-agencies-and-ngos-warn-without-immediate-action-most-international-ngo-partners-could-be-de-registered http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/08/turk-calls-end-starvation-civilians-and-humiliation-hostages-gaza   UN Relief Chief calls for Gaza ceasefire as starvation spreads   OCHA warns once again that conditions on the ground in Gaza are already catastrophic and deteriorating fast – with death, displacement and destruction continuing to be reported as a result of ongoing Israeli military operations.   The starvation crisis is deepening across the Strip. Hunger and malnutrition increase the risk of illnesses that weaken the immune system, especially among women, children, older people, and those with disabilities or chronic diseases. The consequences can turn deadly fast. Food scarcity is also having a severe impact on pregnant and breastfeeding women, as their babies are more likely to be born with health complications. It affects mothers’ ability to breastfeed, putting children at increased risk of infectious diseases.   Life is being drained out of Gaza, as systems and services are on the verge of collapse. Just yesterday, the local health authorities announced that more people died from starvation. In the meantime, the trickle of supplies that are making it into the Strip are nowhere near adequate to address the immense needs.   The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, warned that Gaza is starving and called for a ceasefire now. “We must save as many lives as we can – and we have a plan”. It outlines the steps necessary to stop the horror, as well as the constraints placed on humanitarian operations in Gaza and the UN’s proposed solutions to resolve them.   UN teams are in place to ramp up delivery as soon as they are allowed to do so. Their supplies are ready to move. During the last ceasefire, tens of thousands of truckloads entered Gaza, with food aid reaching nearly every single person in the Strip.   What is missing right now is safe, sustained access. Aid workers face constant danger, crossings are unreliable, and critical items are routinely blocked. If Israel opens the crossings, lets fuel and equipment in, and allows humanitarian staff to operate safely, the UN will accelerate the delivery of food aid, health services, clean water and waste management, nutrition supplies, and shelter materials. Ensuring these elements are in place will be critical to scaling up assistance in the event of a ceasefire.   http://www.unocha.org/news/todays-top-news-occupied-palestinian-territory-ukraine-syria-democratic-republic-congo http://unocha.exposure.co/gaza-through-the-eyes-of-its-photographers http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-regional-director-middle-east-and-north-africa-edouard-beigbeder-3 http://www.unocha.org/considerations-delivery-humanitarian-aid-during-ceasefire-gaza http://www.icrc.org/en/statement/israel-and-occupied-territories-icrc-president-calls-urgent-collective-action-states-end-suffering   July 2025 (UN News)   Multiple attacks in recent days have killed and injured scores of Palestinians at sites hosting displaced people and others attempting to access essential supplies.   On just one day this week, nearly 30,000 people were forced to flee under new Israeli relocation orders, with no safe place to go and clearly inadequate supplies of shelter, food, medicine or water.   With no fuel having entered Gaza in over 17 weeks, the UN is “gravely concerned that the last lifelines for survival are being cut off.”   “Without an urgent influx of fuel, incubators will shut down, ambulances will be unable to reach the injured and sick, and water cannot be purified,” Mr. Dujarric said.   “The delivery by the United Nations and partners of what little of our lifesaving humanitarian aid is left in Gaza will also grind to a halt.”   The UN Secretary-General reiterated his call for safe and sustained humanitarian access so aid can reach people in desperate need.   “The UN has a clear and proven plan, rooted in the humanitarian principles, to get vital assistance to civilians – safely and at scale, wherever they are,” Mr. Dujarric said.   The Secretary-General reiterated his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups. He reminded all parties that international humanitarian law must be upheld.   A recent WFP assessment shows nearly one person in three is not eating for days, placing more people at risk of starvation.   WFP Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Carl Skau, visited Gaza City on 1-2 July, talking to families there.   “This is my fourth visit to Gaza since the start of the conflict. The situation is the worst I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to find words to describe the level of desperation I have witnessed. People are dying just trying to get food. Our kitchens are empty. A mother told me she had gone to a kitchen hoping to find a hot meal and fainted there. There was nothing to eat and she went home without anything for her children. People are starving, while we have food just across the border.”   “Our WFP teams in Gaza are doing heroic work under conditions that are simply impossible. They are frequently caught in cross-fire escorting food convoys through combat zones. We don’t have enough fuel for our vehicles, or spare parts for our trucks or cars, or basic equipment to communicate. And our national staff are not just aid workers—they live here, they face the same dangers, the same hunger as the rest of the population. We can’t continue in these conditions.”   “A ceasefire is urgently needed. We stand ready to deliver - we have the food, the capacity and the systems to assist the entire population in Gaza. During the previous ceasefire, we showed what was possible: delivering over 8,000 trucks of food in only 42 days. We can do it again, but we need all routes and entry points to open, and we need safety and order to be able to reach most vulnerable. The ceasefire must be the first step toward lasting peace.”   The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reiterated that in the face of massive and ever-increasing humanitarian needs, the Israeli authorities must open all available crossings, fully facilitate humanitarian access inside Gaza, and protect civilians – in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law.   http://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-warns-security-council-erosion-rules-war-gaza-demands-urgent-response http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-executive-director-catherine-russells-remarks-humanitarian-situation-children http://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/23/we-faced-hunger-before-but-never-like-this-skeletal-children-fill-hospital-wards-as-starvation-grips-gaza http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/blog/clock-ticking-fast-starving-children-gaza-will-world-take-action-save-them http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/07/starving-civilians-gaza-lethal-inhumane-and-degrading-and-it-must-end http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-children-killed-during http://www.msf.org/two-msf-facilities-gaza-reach-all-time-high-acute-malnutrition-levels http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/gaza-starvation-or-gunfire http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-124/en/ http://www.wfp.org/news/risk-famine-across-all-gaza-new-report-says   http://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-calls-security-council-act-decisively-prevent-genocide-gaza http://www.who.int/news/item/12-05-2025-people-in-gaza-starving--sick-and-dying-as-aid-blockade-continues http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unimaginable-horrors-more-50000-children-reportedly-killed-or-injured-gaza-strip http://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/news/2025/05/un-women-estimates-over-28000-women-and-girls-killed-in-gaza-since-october-2023 http://www.icrc.org/en/statement/israel-and-occupied-territories-red-cross-field-hospital-unprecedented-influx-war-wounded-gaza http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/israel-and-occupied-territories-icrc-urges-protection-of-civilians-unhindered-humanitarian-assistance   http://www.savethechildren.net/news/news-quote-let-us-do-our-jobs-and-deliver-aid-safely-gazas-starving-population http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/05/turk-deplores-gaza-escalation-pleads-global-action-stop-more-killings http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/joint-donor-statement-humanitarian-aid-gaza http://www.unocha.org/news/briefing-note-un-coordinated-plan-resume-humanitarian-aid-deliveries-gaza http://theelders.org/news/elders-call-collective-action-governments-end-palestinian-suffering-gaza http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/bond-responds-uk-france-canada-statement-and-joint-donor-statement-gaza http://cafod.org.uk/news/media/press-releases/gaza-food-supplies http://actionagainsthunger.ca/story/avert-humanitarian-catastrophe-gaza/ http://plan-international.org/news/2025/06/02/israeli-aid-blockade-hits-three-month-mark/   May 2025   UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the situation for children in the Gaza Strip after two months of aid blockade:   “For two months, children in the Gaza Strip have faced relentless bombardments while being deprived of essential goods, services and lifesaving care. With each passing day of the aid blockade, they face the growing risk of starvation, illness and death – nothing can justify this.   “Families are struggling to survive. They are trapped, unable to flee in search of safety. The land they used to farm has been destroyed. The sea they used for fishing has been restricted. Bakeries are closing, water production is declining, and market shelves are almost bare. Humanitarian aid has provided the only lifeline for children, and now it is close to running out.   “In the past month, over 75 per cent of households have reported deteriorating access to water – they don’t have enough water to drink, are unable to wash their hands when needed, and often forced to choose between showering, cleaning, and cooking.   “Vaccines are quickly running out and diseases are spreading – especially acute watery diarrhoea, which now accounts for 1 in every 4 cases of disease recorded in Gaza. Most of these cases are among children under five, for whom it is life-threatening.   “Malnutrition is also on the rise. More than 9,000 children have been admitted for treatment of acute malnutrition since the beginning of the year. Hundreds more children in desperate need of treatment are not able to access it due to the insecurity and displacement.   “International humanitarian law requires authorities to ensure that the population under their control is treated humanely. This not only includes ensuring that civilians have the food, medicine, and essential supplies they need, but also ensuring sufficient hygiene and public health standards. All parties to the conflict must allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance. And they must allow and facilitate all relevant UN entities to carry out those activities for the benefit of the local population.   “UNICEF remains in the Gaza Strip, doing what we can to support and protect children. But the aid blockade and more than 18 months of war are pushing Gaza’s children to the brink. We reiterate our call for the aid blockade to be lifted, for the entry of commercial goods into Gaza, for the release of the hostages, and for the protection of all children.”   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-situation-children-gaza-strip http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-124/en/ http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/05/gaza-un-child-rights-committee-condemns-mass-starvation-children-amid-aid http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/05/gaza-un-anti-racism-committee-decries-halt-food-aid-urges-immediate http://www.ohchr.org/en/media-centre/news-situation-occupied-palestinian-territory-israel-and-lebanon http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/press-releases/half-of-gazas-children-now-malnourished-as-humanitarian-aid-remains-blocked/ http://www.mercycorps.org/blog/gaza-is-starving http://www.careinternational.org.uk/news-stories/blockade-in-gaza-we-hope-this-hell-were-living-in-will-end-soon/ http://plan-international.org/blog/2025/03/24/the-true-cost-of-war-gaza-ceasefire-fail/   Apr. 2025   World must act with urgency to save Palestinians in Gaza   (Statement by heads of OCHA, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNRWA, WFP, WHO and IOM)   "For over a month, no commercial or humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza. More than 2.1 million people are trapped, bombed and starved again, while, at crossing points, food, medicine, fuel and shelter supplies are piling up, and vital equipment is stuck.   Over 1,000 children have reportedly been killed or injured in just the first week after the breakdown of the ceasefire, the highest one-week death toll among children in Gaza in the past year.   Just a few days ago, the 25 bakeries supported by the World Food Programme during the ceasefire had to close due to flour and cooking gas shortages.   The partially functional health system is overwhelmed. Essential medical and trauma supplies are rapidly running out, threatening to reverse hard-won progress in keeping the health system operational.   The latest ceasefire allowed us to achieve in 60 days what bombs, obstruction and lootings prevented us from doing in 470 days of war: life-saving supplies reaching nearly every part of Gaza.   While this offered a short respite, assertions that there is now enough food to feed all Palestinians in Gaza are far from the reality on the ground, and commodities are running extremely low.   We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life. New Israeli displacement orders have forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee yet again, with no safe place to go.   No one is safe. At least 408 humanitarian workers, including over 280 from UNRWA, have been killed since October 2023. With the tightened Israeli blockade on Gaza now in its second month, we appeal to world leaders to act – firmly, urgently and decisively – to ensure the basic principles of international humanitarian law are upheld.   Protect civilians. Facilitate aid. Release hostages. Renew a ceasefire.   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/world-must-act-urgency-save-palestinians-gaza http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/more-million-children-gaza-strip-deprived-lifesaving-aid-over-one-month http://www.ochaopt.org/content/secretary-general-remarks-press-gaza http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1161951 http://www.wfp.org/news/hunger-looms-again-gaza-wfp-food-stocks-begin-run-out   18 Mar. 2025   Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the attacks in Gaza:   “Reports and images emerging from the Gaza Strip following today’s attacks are beyond horrifying. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed, including more than 130 children, representing one of the largest single-day child death toll in the last year.   “Some of the strikes reportedly hit makeshift shelters with sleeping children and families, another deadly reminder that nowhere is safe in Gaza.   “The latest attacks come as lifesaving aid remains blocked from entering Gaza, compounding the risks to children.. Today, Gaza’s one million children – who have endured more than 15 months of war – have been plunged back into a world of fear and death. The attacks and the violence must stop – now.   “We urge all parties to immediately reinstate the ceasefire, and we call on countries with influence to use their leverage to ensure the situation does not further deteriorate. International humanitarian law must be respected by all parties, allowing the immediate provision of humanitarian aid, the protection of civilians, and the release of all hostages.”   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-attacks-gaza http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/palestinian-children-remain-deprived-most-essential-supplies-and-services http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/03/1161246 http://news.un.org/en/tags/gaza http://www.unocha.org/news/renewed-airstrikes-gaza-un-relief-chief-urges-restoration-ceasefire http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/gaza-renewed-bombardment-humanitarian-freefall http://reliefweb.int/country/pse http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/03/comment-un-human-rights-chief-volker-turk-israeli-airstrikes-gaza http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/israel-and-occupied-territories-icrc-warns-worsening-humanitarian-crisis-gaza http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/stoppage-humanitarian-aid-deliveries-gaza-strip-unicef-warns-severe-consequences http://www.ifrc.org/press-release/statement-without-access-aid-gaza-strip-peoples-lives-are-knife-edge-once-again http://www.nrc.no/news/2025/march/suspension-of-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza-will-lead-to-more-suffering Visit the related web page
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