The dire situation in the Gaza Strip has been described as “catastrophic” and “apocalyptic” by UN Security Council envoys who recently visited the region. The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, compared the level of destruction to that of Germany during World War II. The envoys, accompanied by representatives from various nations, visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, the only entry point for aid into the besieged territory.
During the visit, the envoys witnessed unimaginable suffering and were briefed on the dire conditions faced by Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. The United States, which supports Israel, vetoed a draft resolution at the Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire. Israeli tanks and troops continue to press an assault that has displaced most of Gaza’s population and resulted in the deaths and injuries of thousands.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) provided a briefing on the conditions in Gaza, highlighting the dire situation of malnutrition, collapsing medical systems, and a lack of water and food. Gazans are dying from these factors, in addition to the ongoing conflict. The bodies of at least 208 Palestinians arrived at hospitals in Gaza, with hundreds more wounded. However, Israeli forces have been blocking ambulances from reaching certain areas, leaving victims trapped under rubble.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini described an “implosion of civil order” in which Gazans, who have not eaten for days, resorted to looting aid distribution centers and stopping trucks to secure supplies for their families. The situation has been described as “catastrophic” and demands urgent attention from the international community.
The envoys also discussed the issue of limited humanitarian aid and fuel deliveries entering Gaza via the Rafah crossing. While some aid has been received, it falls far short of the basic needs of the population. The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the destruction in Gaza is proportionally even greater than Germany’s experience during World War II.
With the majority of Gaza’s population displaced and crowded into the south, there are concerns that Palestinians could be forced out of the territory altogether, similar to the mass expulsion known as the Nakba in 1948. Aid organizations are reporting growing health issues among the population, including respiratory infections and diarrhoea due to crowded shelters and poor sanitation.
As the UN envoys traveled towards the Rafah border, hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid were waiting to enter Gaza. The UAE is coordinating with relevant authorities to pump drinkable water from an Emirati-funded desalination plant in Egypt into Gaza. However, the extent of damage caused by Israeli bombardment raises questions about the infrastructure’s capacity to receive the desalinated water.
The UN Security Council is currently negotiating a resolution drafted by the UAE, demanding that warring parties allow the use of all routes for aid deliveries and establish a UN-run aid monitoring mechanism in Gaza. The UN General Assembly will also convene to discuss the situation, and a draft resolution for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire is expected to be voted upon.
The international community is urged to take immediate action to address the catastrophic conditions in Gaza and bring about a much-needed ceasefire. The suffering of the Gazan people has reached unprecedented levels, and urgent assistance is required to alleviate their plight.
