World Humanitarian Day 2024; Act for Humanity by UN News, OCHA, ICRC, Reliefweb, agencies   This World Humanitarian Day, we need those in power to act now to ensure the protection of civilians, including humanitarians, in all conflict zones.   Despite universally accepted international laws to regulate the conduct of armed conflict and limit its impact on civilian lives, violations of these laws continue unabated, unchallenged and unchecked. And while civilians, including aid workers, pay the ultimate price, the perpetrators continue to evade justice. This failure of those in power cannot be allowed to continue.   Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop. Attacks on humanitarian workers and humanitarian assets must stop.   The first half of 2024 has been characterized by attacks against health, education and water and sanitation facilities that has left millions of people without access to the services they need to survive. 2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers. In 2023, tens of thousands of civilians were killed and injured in armed conflict,   The brutal hostilities in multiple conflicts around the world have exposed a terrible truth: We are living in an era of impunity. Attacks that kill or injure civilians, including humanitarian and health-care personnel, are devastatingly common. Yet despite widespread condemnation, serious violations of the rules of war too often go unpunished. This status quo is shameful and cannot continue.   This World Humanitarian Day, we demand an end to these violations and the impunity with which they are committed. It is time for those in power to end impunity and #ActForHumanity.   All States, parties to armed conflict, and the wider international community must act to end attacks on civilians and take active steps to protect them – and the critical civilian infrastructure they rely on.   We must confront the normalization of attacks on civilians, including humanitarians, and impunity under International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We must pressure parties to conflict and world leaders to take action to ensure the protection of civilians, including humanitarians, in all conflict zones.   Attacks harming humanitarians have become common and are a violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). In 2023, 280 humanitarians were killed, most of them were national staff working to help their own communities. So far this year, more than 170 humanitarians have been killed. At least another 150 have been injured or abducted.   All parties to armed conflict – States and non-State armed groups alike – must respect international humanitarian law (IHL). This means they must; Protect all civilians, including humanitarian workers and all civilian objects, including humanitarian assets. Allow humanitarian aid to reach all civilians who need it, safely, quickly and without obstruction. Care for wounded and sick people and protect medical personnel, facilities and transports.   Protect objects indispensable for civilians’ survival, such as crops and drinking water. Treat all people under their control humanely. Torture, sexual violence and other forms of inhumane treatment are strictly prohibited.   Obstructions, denial of humanitarian access, threats to humanitarian workers' safety and movement compromise lifelines to millions of people in need. This results in ordinary people losing access to essentials such as food, water and medical care.   The destruction of hospitals, schools and other critical civilian infrastructure devastates communities for generations. In 2023, global humanitarian operations provided life-saving aid to more than 140 million people. Despite the challenges, humanitarians persist in striving to help all those in need.   This year marks the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions – part of the foundation of IHL and the global consensus that wars must have limits.   Parties to armed conflict are obligated to uphold IHL. All States must use their influence to prevent and end IHL violations. The issue isn’t the absence of rules but the failure to uphold them. We need political will and courage to ensure respect for IHL.   It is vital that all parties to armed conflict and all States adhere to their obligations and leverage their influence to ensure respect for the rules of war and minimize human suffering.   Fulfilling these obligations requires more than mere declarations – it demands immediate and decisive actions. Turning a blind eye when humanitarian workers are targeted only emboldens those who seek to hinder their work. This only serves to increase food insecurity, childhood malnutrition, involuntary displacement and the spread of infectious diseases and other threats. The immediate effects of these will not only be limited to areas of conflict but often spread far beyond.   http://www.worldhumanitarianday.org/ http://interagencystandingcommittee.org/open-letter-member-states-un-general-assembly-behalf-iasc-principals http://www.un.org/en/observances/humanitarian-day/messages http://www.un.org/en/observances/humanitarian-day http://about.worldhumanitarianday.org/past-campaigns   Statement by members of the NGO Working Group on the Protection of Civilians:   This year marks both the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council’s adoption of the protection of civilians (POC) in armed conflict agenda, and the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.   Rather than an opportunity to mark progress in strengthening protection of civilians in conflict, the Security Council must reckon with the reality of the shocking civilian toll of armed conflict.   Despite significant effort and investment, including UN Security Council resolutions enshrining the Protection of Civilians as a global priority, 2024 has been characterised by the continued erosion of compliance with international laws and standards, in particular international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL).   A widening gap between legal obligations and practice now threatens 25 years of progress and leaves civilians in conflicts around the world vulnerable to the devastating consequences of these wars.   The disproportionately high impact of armed conflict on women, children, people with disabilities, older people, and other potentially marginalised groups is now the norm rather than the exception.   Today, civilians continue to suffer the tragic effects of war across numerous contexts, including those with UN peace operations or where missions are in the process of drawdown or withdrawal.   Warring parties - including state and non-state actors - continue to kill, maim and cause life-long psychological wounds to civilians, use sexual violence and starvation as weapons of war, and destroy critical civilian infrastructure, the environment, livelihoods and education.   As conflict is increasingly fought in urban areas, the levels of harm to civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure increases exponentially, especially when parties to conflict use explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA).   In all cases, the physical, psychological and reverberating effects of violence often continue to impact civilian lives and livelihoods for generations after the conflict has ended.   We are standing at the threshold, witnessing a deliberate undermining of the collective commitments established to limit the barbarity of war, combined with a lack of accountability when international laws and standards are disregarded.   In addition, survivors are often left without justice or redress. If this accountability gap is not addressed urgently, we risk barrelling further down a path of no return.   As NGOs working in conflict zones around the world, while we seek to strengthen rules and mechanisms to prevent and address civilian harm in armed conflict, the scale of harm and humanitarian need is now far outpacing our ability to respond.   Reversing the tide is not only a legal and moral responsibility but is central to maintaining international peace and security and to making progress on essential shared global goals.   The world has changed considerably in the last 25 years. Armed conflicts have become increasingly complex, urbanised, and asymmetric. Meanwhile, emerging threats such as the use of new technologies and artificial intelligence, mis- and disinformation, and the presence of non-state security actors, including private military and security companies, as well as climate change, continue to change the way armed conflict is fought and the nature and scale of risks to civilians in conflict. A re-commitment to the protection of civilians is more urgent than ever.   This responsibility to prevent and end armed conflicts, regulate how they are fought and hold the perpetrators of violations accountable sits with armed actors, states and with the bodies designed to maintain international peace and security - all of which are currently failing in their duties.   States must not only respect their own legal obligations and commitments, they should also use their leverage to ensure that all parties to a conflict, and those supporting them, respect international norms and standards, including the protection of civilians. Those with power must ensure all civilians, including humanitarians, journalists, human rights defenders and peacebuilders, are not a target.   Major arms exporting States have a role to play in encouraging compliance with these international norms and standards. By ending the supply of weapons, ammunition, and parts and components to contexts where there might be an overriding risk of the commission of violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law, States will not only fulfil their obligations under the Geneva Conventions and international customary law to ensure respect for IHL, but also contribute to preventing the suffering of civilians.   Ahead of this year’s UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians, we collectively urge UN Security Council members, the UN Secretary-General, and all UN Member States to inject renewed urgency into ensuring the implementation of international laws and standards, and UNSC Resolutions, for the protection of civilians in armed conflict..   Signed by: Action Against Hunger, Amnesty International, Article 36, CARE, Center for Civilians in Conflict, Concern Worldwide, Control Arms, Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect, Human Rights Watch, Humanitarian Policy Group / ODI, International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW), International Rescue Committee, Legal Action Worldwide, Nonviolent Peace Force, Norwegian Refugee Council, PAX, Plan International, Save the Children, Watchlist for Children and Armed Conflict, World Vision   http://reliefweb.int/report/world/2024-statement-members-ngo-working-group-protection-civilians http://www.unocha.org/news/un-deputy-relief-chief-appeals-security-council-full-protection-civilians http://www.undocs.org/S/2024/385 http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/geneva-conventions-75th-anniversary-foundational-treaties-save-lives-and-dignity http://www.icrc.org/en/document/75th-anniversary-geneva-conventions http://www.icrc.org/en/document/icrc-president-spoljaric-destruction-despair-should-not-let-us-forget-wars-have-limits http://www.icrc.org/en/document/global-and-collective-failure-to-protect-civilians-in-armed-conflict http://www.ifrc.org/get-involved/campaign-us/stand-us-protect-humanity   http://www.care-international.org/news/impunity-must-end-attacks-aid-workers-rise-record-high http://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/statement/2024/08/un-women-statement-for-world-humanitarian-day http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1153326 http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/meaningful-action-prevent-use-explosive-weapons-populated-areas-could-almost-halve http://www.hi-us.org/en/campaign/stop-bombing-civilians http://www.inew.org/news/ http://www.unicef.org/topics/humanitarian-action-and-emergencies http://data.stopwaronchildren.org http://www.stopwaronchildren.org/   http://www.unfpa.org/news/health-and-humanitarian-workers-face-record-violence-here-are-5-reasons-world-must-take-action http://insecurityinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Effects-on-Health-Care-of-the-Use-of-Explosive-Weapons-July-2024.pdf http://www.msf.org/ http://www.globalr2p.org/resources/resolution-2286-protection-of-civilians-s-res-2286/ http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/remarks-unrwa-chief-staff-mr-ben-majekodunmi-world-humanitarian-day-2024-un-commemoration http://unocha.exposure.co/act-for-humanity http://odi.org/en/insights/world-humanitarian-day-2024-act-for-humanity/ http://www.interaction.org/blog/world-humanitarian-day-2024/ http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/mercy-corps-world-humanitarian-day-2024 http://www.helpage.org/news/world-humanitarian-day-2024-a-call-to-protect-those-who-serve http://www.concern.net/news/world-failing-humanitarian-workers-and-people-they-support Visit the related web page
	Risk of famine in Sudan, Gaza by IPC, UNICEF, WFP, FAO, agencies   1 Aug. 2024   Famine in Sudan: IPC Famine Review Committee confirms Famine conditions in North Darfur   The Famine Review Committee (FRC) of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has concluded that famine conditions are prevalent in parts of North Darfur, including the Zamzam camp south of El Fasher. The escalating violence in Sudan, which has been persisting for over 15 months now, has severely impeded humanitarian access and pushed parts of North Darfur into Famine, notably Zamzam IDP camp.   Areas are classified in IPC Phase 5 (Famine) when at least one in five (or 20 percent) people or households have an extreme lack of food and face starvation and destitution, resulting in extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition and death.   The Zamzam Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp is located approximately 12 kilometres south of El Fasher town and represents one of the largest IDP camps in Sudan, with an estimated population of at least 500,000.   The scale of devastation brought by the escalating violence in El Fasher town is profound and harrowing. Persistent, intense, and widespread clashes have forced many residents to seek refuge in IDP camps, where they face a stark reality: basic services are scant or absent, compounding the hardship of displacement. Around 320,000 people are believed to have been displaced since mid-April in El Fasher. Around 150,000 to 200,000 of them are believed to have moved to Zamzam camp in search of security, basic services, and food since mid-May. The camp population has expanded to over half a million in a few weeks.   Restrictions on humanitarian access, including intentional impediments imposed by the active parties to the conflict, have severely restricted the capability of aid organisations to scale up their response efforts effectively. These obstructions have critically hindered the delivery of necessary aid and exacerbated the food crisis, driving some households into Famine conditions. As with any Famine, there is a multi-sectoral collapse, and basic human needs for health services, water, food , nutrition, shelter, and protection are not being met.   The impacts of widespread conflict are driving the risk of Famine across many other areas of Sudan, including areas of Greater Darfur, parts of South Kordofan and Khartoum.   Famine confirmed in Sudan’s North Darfur, confirming UN agencies worst fears   “We urgently need a massive expansion of humanitarian access so we can halt the famine that has taken hold in North Darfur and stop it sweeping across Sudan. The warring parties must lift all restrictions and open new supply routes across borders, and across conflict lines, so relief agencies can get to cut-off communities with desperately needed food and other humanitarian aid,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. “I also call on the international community to act now to secure a ceasefire in this brutal conflict and end Sudan’s slide into famine. It is the only way we will reverse a humanitarian catastrophe that is destabilizing this entire region of Africa.”   “Today’s news confirms some of our worst fears that famine is occurring in parts of Sudan and is inflicting unimaginable suffering on children and families who are already reeling from the impact of a horrific war,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “This famine is fully man-made. We again call on all the parties to provide the humanitarian system with unimpeded and safe access to children and families in need. We must be able to use all routes, across lines of conflict and borders. Sudan’s children cannot wait. They need protection, basic services and most of all, a ceasefire and peace.”   UNICEF and WFP continue to call on all parties to guarantee safe unhindered and sustained humanitarian access, to allow the humanitarian response to be further expanded and to allow the agencies to deliver at speed. The agencies also urge the international community to intensify their financial support for humanitarian efforts and use every diplomatic tool at their disposal to bring about an immediate ceasefire WFP and UNICEF have mobilised a large-scale humanitarian response with local and international partners, inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries where more than 2 million Sudanese have fled to safety.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-107/en/ http://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/famine-sudan-ipc-famine-review-committee-confirms-famine-conditions-parts-north-darfur http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1152871 http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1152736 http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/famine-confirmed-sudans-north-darfur-confirming-un-agencies-worst-fears http://www.wfp.org/stories/famine-sudan-wfp-calls-unfettered-access-hunger-hotspots-save-lives http://fews.net/famine-ipc-phase-5-confirmed-sudans-zamzam-idp-camp-al-fasher http://fews.net/east-africa/sudan/alert/august-2024 http://www.rescue.org/press-release/one-sudans-largest-idp-camps-facing-famine-conditions-irc-calls-immediate-ceasefire http://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2024/sudan-crisis-people-are-dying-of-hunger/ http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/grave-malnutrition-emergency-central-south-darfur http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/press-releases/un-says-famine-conditions-already-present-in-sudan/   27 June 2024   Sudan is facing an unprecedented hunger catastrophe due to the ongoing conflict, say UN Agency Chiefs.   The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) are warning of a rapid deterioration in conditions for the people of Sudan, particularly children, as food security is torn apart by war that has ravaged the country for more than a year.   The risk of widespread famine in Sudan caused by war there was confirmed by leading hunger experts from the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative, with over half the population in Sudan – 25.6 million people – facing “crisis or worse” conditions between now September 2024.   In the more than 14 months since rival militaries – the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces – unleashed their heavy weapons arsenals on one another amid rising tensions over a transition to civilian rule, the UN has repeatedly called for a ceasefire as the country has become a battleground.   The rapid deterioration in food security in Sudan has left 755,000 people in catastrophic conditions (IPC Phase 5) with a risk of famine in 14 areas, according to the latest Snapshot data released by the Integrated Phase Classification. The worst conditions are in the areas hardest hit by fighting and where people displaced by the conflict have gathered. A total of 25.6 million people are in the high levels of acute hunger (IPC Phase 3+). This means that for half of Sudan’s war-battered population, every single day is a struggle to feed themselves and their families.   The new data shows a stark deterioration in food security in Sudan compared with the last IPC report in December 2023, this included nearly five million people in emergency levels of hunger (IPC phase four) whereas today’s assessment indicates that number to have risen to 8.5 million.   “The new IPC analysis reveals a deepening and rapid deterioration of the food security situation in Sudan with millions of people’s lives at risk,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. "We must act collectively, at scale, with unimpeded access, for the sake of millions of innocent lives hanging in the balance”.   “We urgently need a massive expansion of humanitarian access and funding so we can scale-up our relief operations, and halt Sudan’s slide into humanitarian catastrophe", said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain.   “The latest snapshot illustrates the devastating impact the conflict in Sudan is having on the country's children," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "Hunger and malnutrition are spreading at alarming rates, and without concerted international action and funding, there is a very real danger the situation will spiral out of all control. There is no time to lose. Any delay in unfettered access to vulnerable populations will be measured in the loss of children's lives."   “More than a year into this brutal war, the pain and suffering of children in Sudan continue to grow”. “Whether trapped between the frontlines, forced from their homes, or witnessing their communities torn apart, children’s lives have been turned upside down. This is the biggest child displacement crisis in the world. Children do not start wars, but they pay the highest price. We need the world to know what is happening to the children of Sudan and insist that all parties stop the violence and end this war.”   "Nearly 9 million children are grappling with acute food insecurity and lack of access to safe drinking water. Almost 4 million children under five suffer from acute malnutrition, with 730,000 of those projected to be at imminent risk of dying. Combined with a drop in vaccination coverage due to fighting and access restrictions, and ongoing disease outbreaks such as cholera, measles, malaria and dengue fever, hundreds of thousands of more children are at risk of dying".   “We have received news of people eating leaves from trees; and mothers cooking up dirt just to put something in their children’s stomachs,” said Justin Brady, head of the UN emergency relief agency (OCHA) in Sudan, in an interview with UN News.   Based on drastic new figures from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Partnership – the leading international authority on the severity of hunger crises – Save the Children found 16.4 million children, or three in every four children, now face “crisis”, “emergency” or “catastrophe” levels of hunger - up from 8.3 million last December.   IPC figures from March showed that in just one displacement camp, almost a quarter of children (23%) were suffering from wasting – the most visible and lethal form of malnutrition.   Dr. Arif Noor, Save the Children Country Director in Sudan, said:   “These new IPC figures should make our blood run cold. Fourteen months of devastating conflict have turned Sudan’s breadbasket into battlefields. Hundreds of thousands of children who have managed to dodge bullets and bombs are now facing death by starvation and disease. “Where is the collective outrage – and action - needed to tackle this travesty? It is already too late to prevent mass hunger and malnutrition. But through immediate, co-ordinated action, we can save lives – and history will judge us if we do not."   The risk of famine threatens residents, people uprooted by the war and refugees in no less than 14 areas covering Greater Darfur, Greater Kordofan, Al Jazira states and hotspots in Khartoum.   An immediate ceasefire and renewed international efforts – both diplomatic and financial – as well as unhindered and sustained humanitarian access, are urgently needed for a humanitarian response to allow agencies to deliver at the speed needed.   The humanitarian response for Sudan is currently seriously underfunded, with donors contributing to just 16.8% to a $2.7 billion UN response plan.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-104/en/ http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/06/1151546 http://www.wfp.org/news/sudan-facing-unprecedented-hunger-catastrophe-say-un-agency-chiefs http://www.nrc.no/resources/statements/failure-of-the-international-community-could-leave-millions-at-risk-of-famine-in-sudan http://www.unicef.org/sudan/topics/sudan http://www.savethechildren.net/news/child-hunger-sudan-almost-doubles-six-months-three-every-four-children-affected http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/mercy-corps-sudan-ingo-forum-sudan http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/story/sudan-is-experiencing-its-worst-hunger-levels-on-record-with-800000-people-facing-the-threat-of-famine   http://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudans-children-trapped-critical-malnutrition-crisis-warn-un-agencies http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/sudans-children-trapped-critical-malnutrition-crisis-warn-un-agencies http://www.unocha.org/news/ocha-urges-security-council-act-sudan-humanitarian-crisis http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/06/1151151 http://www.unhcr.org/news/press-releases/unhcr-s-grandi-warns-sudan-carnage-will-force-millions-more-flee http://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-ingo-forum-calls-end-bloodshed-el-fasher http://interagencystandingcommittee.org/inter-agency-standing-committee/statement-principals-inter-agency-standing-committee-no-time-lose-famine-stalks-millions-sudan-amid http://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/17/we-need-the-world-to-wake-up-sudan-facing-worlds-deadliest-famine-in-40-years   24 July 2024   Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the situation in the Gaza Strip:   “With each passing week, children and families face new horrors in the Gaza Strip. The devastating attacks on schools and internally displaced sites continue, reportedly killing hundreds more Palestinians, many of them women and children, and leaving already overwhelmed hospitals buckling under the strain.   “We see children who withstood previous injuries only to be hurt again. Doctors and nurses with no resources, struggling to save lives. Thousands of boys and girls sick, hungry, injured, or separated from their families. The violence and deprivation are leaving permanent scars on their vulnerable bodies and minds. And now, with a breakdown in sanitation and sewage treatment, the polio virus joins the list of threats, especially for the thousands of unvaccinated children.   “As families are repeatedly forced to move to escape the immediate violence, the humanitarian situation is beyond catastrophic.. “Humanitarian agencies, including UNICEF, are doing everything we can to respond, but the dire situation and attacks against humanitarian personnel continue to obstruct our efforts.. “Simply put - we do not have the necessary conditions in the Gaza Strip for a robust humanitarian response. The flow of aid must be unimpeded and access must be regular and safe. “For almost nine months, aid has trickled into Gaza. Civilians have been deprived of supplies. The commercial sector has been decimated.. “The challenge is exacerbated by the operating conditions on the ground. At least 278 aid workers in the Gaza Strip have already been killed – a record number – while others are put in harm’s way, or prevented from doing their jobs.   “We need an immediate improved security environment, including security for aid delivery trucks, to allow aid workers to safely reach the communities they intend to serve.   “Most critically, we need an immediate and sustainable ceasefire. We call on all parties to this conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. They must protect civilians and the infrastructure they rely on. This includes ensuring civilians receive the essentials they need to survive – food, water, nutrition treatment, shelter, and health care – through safe and unimpeded humanitarian operations.   “It is long past time for this crisis to end, for hostages to be returned to their families and for the children of Gaza to have a healthy and secure future.”   June 2024   Risk of deadly malnutrition and famine in Gaza (UN News)   Far too little aid is reaching people in Gaza to the extent that children are now starving, UN humanitarians said on Friday, in a renewed appeal to Israel to respect international law regarding the safe passage of lifesaving relief in the war-shattered enclave.   The alert from the World Health Organization (WHO) follows the finding that more than four in five children “did not eat for a whole day at least once in the three days” ahead of a food insecurity survey.   “These are children under five who are not getting food all day,” said WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris. “So, you ask, ‘Are the supplies getting through?’ No, children are starving.”   Echoing those concerns, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted the risk of deadly malnutrition and famine among Gaza’s most vulnerable individuals.   “I would say they are certainly not getting the amount that they desperately need to prevent a famine, to prevent all kind of horrors that we see. It’s very, very little that is going around at the moment,” said OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke.   Responding to questions about aid access obstacles, he reiterated that the Israeli authorities’ obligations under international humanitarian law to facilitate the delivery of aid “does not stop at the border."   "It does not stop when you drop off just a few metres across the border and then drive away and then leave it to humanitarians to drive through active combat zones - which they cannot do - to pick it up. So, to answer your question, no, the aid that is getting in, is not getting to the people.”   Amid ongoing reports of deadly Israeli bombardment across Gaza on Friday, humanitarians continued to stress that land crossings for aid convoys remain “the only way to get aid in at scale and at speed… We need more of these land crossings and we need them open and we need them safe for use to pick up the aid when it’s dropped off,” the OCHA spokesperson said.   Matthew Hollingsworth, WFP Country Director in Palestine, recently spent 10 days in Gaza. He said the “exodus” of over 800,000 people from Rafah over the past 20 days “has been a horrific experience for many, many people." Most have been displaced several times over and had thought they would be staying in a safe area for the remainder of the war.   They have fled to areas where clean water, medical supplies and support are completely insufficient, food supply is very limited, and telecommunications have stopped.   “Public health concerns are beyond crisis levels” and “the sounds, the smells, the everyday life, are horrific and apocalyptic”, he said. “People sleep to the sounds of bombing, they sleep to the sounds of drones, they sleep to the sounds of war as now tanks roll into parts of central Rafah, which is only kilometres away. And they wake to the same sounds."   UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spokesperson James Elder said across Gaza, average water availability has fallen to between two and nine litres per person, per day, whereas the minimum should be 15 litres. “Somehow people are holding on, but of course we are now in that deathly cycle whereby children are very malnourished, there is immense heat, there is lack of water, there's a horrendous lack of sanitation and that's the cycle. On top of that, of course, there is a very, very active conflict.”   “The ongoing mass displacements, the decimation of health infrastructure, the horrendously insecure operating environment, they all make it much, much more difficult to access aid, hence putting more and more children at risk,” he said.   There is urgent need to scale up humanitarian operations. Food insecurity is at its highest level, and polio was recently found in sewage samples. To prevent a polio epidemic in Gaza, UN humanitarians repeated continuing international calls for a ceasefire to allow a mass vaccination campaign to get under way.   Almost 10 months of war and intense Israeli bombardment have shattered healthcare in Gaza, disrupting inoculation rounds for children, leaving them exposed to a range of preventable diseases.   WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said that a ceasefire would be “the best” solution, before calling at the very least for the enclave’s roads to be kept clear and for safe access for medical and other relief supplies.   Gaza: Risk of Famine as 495,000 people face catastrophic acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 5)   A high risk of Famine persists across the whole Gaza Strip as long as conflict continues and humanitarian access is restricted. About 96 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip (2.15M people) face high levels of acute food insecurity through September 2024.   While the whole territory is classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), over 495,000 people (22 percent of the population) are still facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 5). In this phase, households experience an extreme lack of food, starvation, and exhaustion of coping capacities. 745,000 people (33 percent) are classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4).   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-105/en/ http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-situation-gaza-strip http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/almost-3000-malnourished-children-risk-dying-their-families-eyes-rafah-offensive http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-humanitarian-snapshot-15-july-2024 http://www.savethechildren.net/news/gaza-nearly-300-days-war-attacks-humanitarian-zones-never-ending-relocation-orders-and-aid http://news.un.org/en/interview/2024/06/1151131 http://www.savethechildren.net/news/devastating-new-figures-reveal-gaza-s-child-hunger-catastrophe http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/press-releases/all-of-gaza-now-at-risk-of-famine/ http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/conflict-induced-hunger-gaza-how-months-unrelenting-violence-and-severe-humanitarian-access-restrictions-have-produced-catastrophic-food-insecurity-june-2024 http://www.wfp.org/stories/gaza-updates-wfp-calls-all-access-points-be-opened-rafah-exodus-fuels-hunger   http://www.hi-us.org/en/the-difficulties-in-providing-humanitarian-aid-in-gaza http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/unicef-state-palestine-humanitarian-situation-report-no-28-mid-year-2024 http://fews.net/middle-east-and-asia/gaza/targeted-analysis/may-2024 http://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/05/starvation-already-causing-mass-death-and-lasting-harm-in-gaza-agencies-say http://www.oxfam.org.uk/media/press-releases/famine-risk-increases-as-israel-makes-gaza-aid-response-virtually-impossible-oxfam/ http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-regional-director-middle-east-and-north-africa-adele-khodr-0 http://www.unicef.org/emergencies/children-gaza-need-lifesaving-support http://reliefweb.int/country/pse http://www.ochaopt.org/updates http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements http://news.un.org/en/focus-topic/middle-east Visit the related web page
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