SG spokesperson addresses Gaza operations and concerns over clean water supply

United Nations

Sphinx News: Ahmed Ali

In the United Nations’ latest humanitarian operations inside Gaza, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, speaks of “ongoing disruptions to aid operations.”

With only three crossings open for the large-scale distribution of goods (Kerem Shalom or Kerem Abu Salem crossing, Zikim Crossing, and Kissufim Crossing), Dujarric contends, “we and our partners coordinated with Israeli authorities eight humanitarian movements inside Gaza. While one movement was facilitated, the seven others were either impeded, denied, or cancelled.”

Dujarric adds, “Despite these challenges, we managed to collect more than 200 pallets of medicine and five tankers of fuel from the Kerem Shalom/Kerem Abu Salem crossing, along with additional tents from the Kissufim crossing.”

Additionally, of the 36 hospitals within Gaza, United Nations humanitarian colleagues on the floor report that “none are fully functional, and only 18 of the 36 are partially functional.”

In its latest operations, the WHO (World Health Organization) says it has “facilitated the medical evacuation of 33 Palestinians in need of critical attention… but there are still more than 16,500 patients who need to receive medical care outside of Gaza.”

WHO reaffirms its long, unwavering call for Israeli authorities to open more emergency crossings to help all Palestinians in need of critical medical attention.

Meanwhile, UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) reports that they are running nearly “350 temporary learning spaces across 64 shelters in Gaza, providing in-person learning for more than 47,000 boys and girls.”

While full-scale, unimpeded humanitarian access remains halted, even after the October 10th ceasefire agreement affirmed the need for unequivocal, unhindered large-scale humanitarian distribution and operations, the United Nations continues to make an impact and carry out essential work on the ground.

However, UN reports on the ground indicate that Gaza’s waste and wastewater systems have almost completely collapsed. The collapse poses a major risk of water contamination to all Palestinian civilians, especially children.

Dujarric reaffirms that “the issue of wastewater and hygiene is very much part of our humanitarian approach.” He adds that the collapsed water systems also pose an imminent risk to states “beyond Gaza,” where contaminated water can spread through the Mediterranean Sea.

Therefore, Dujarric states that repairing the broken water systems is at the forefront of UN activities on the ground. The problem, however, which Dujarric duly notes, is that “the equipment needed” to address this timely issue is “not being allowed to enter Gaza.”

Israeli authorities, for that matter, continue to restrict certain essential aid supplies requested by the United Nations, in contravention of the agreed-upon October ceasefire deal.