UN News Today 22 October 2024 |

‘Smell of death is everywhere’ in northern Gaza

The head of the UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA appealed on Tuesday for an immediate truce in northern Gaza following “three weeks of non-stop bombardment” by Israeli forces.

UNRWA staff report that they can’t find food, water or medical care, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X.

He said “the smell of death is everywhere” with bodies left lying on the roads or under rubble.

UN humanitarian efforts to clear the bodies or provide humanitarian assistance are simply being denied, he added.

“In northern Gaza, people are just waiting to die”, he wrote. “They feel deserted, hopeless and alone. They live from one hour to the next, fearing death at every second.”

He said an immediate truce was essential, even if it’s only for a few hours, to enable safe humanitarian passage for families desperate to escape.

Meanwhile the UN humanitarian aid office, OCHA, is reporting that for five days now, people have been trapped under the rubble in the Falouja area of Jabalia.

“Our urgent plea to go and help them has been repeatedly denied by Israeli authorities,” said OCHA’s Gloria Lazic in Gaza.

UN rights chief slams Israeli strike in Beirut as violation of international law

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Tuesday that he’s appalled by the deaths and injuries caused by an Israeli strike across from Rafik Hariri University Hospital, in Beirut’s densely populated Jnah neighbourhood.

At least 18 people were killed, including four children, and around 60 were wounded in the strike on residential buildings Israel said was a legitimate Hezbollah target. They reportedly issued no warning for residents to evacuate.

He said the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law concerning protection of civilians, must be respected by all combatants.

The hospital has received a large number of patients throughout the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and although there were no reported staff casualties, debris from the strike did reportedly damage the facility.

Mr. Türk said “all feasible precautions must be taken” to avoid incidental loss of civilian life or injury and damage to infrastructure, especially when conducting military operations in the vicinity of hospitals.

“I repeat the UN’s call for an immediate cessation to hostilities and remind all parties that the protection of civilians must be the absolute top priority,” the rights chief said.

WFP reaches one million crisis-affected people in Burkina Faso

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has reached a significant milestone in its humanitarian response in Burkina Faso, it announced on Tuesday, providing assistance to more than one million crises affected people – thanks largely to funding from the United States.

The US International Development Bureau has provided $124 million to support WFP’s operations in the West African country this year, representing 70 per cent of all contributions received.

The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), managed by WFP, has played a crucial role, enabling the safe and reliable transport of humanitarians and relief items to remote and hard-to-reach locations.

Nearly 15,000 humanitarian workers and over 500 tonnes of relief supplies were delivered safely by UNHAS between January and September.

“This unwavering support has been instrumental in enabling WFP to reach populations in need in Burkina Faso’s hard to-reach locations,” said Sory Ouane, WFP’s Country Director and Representative in Burkina Faso.

One recent Food Security analysis revealed that an estimated 2.7 million Burkinabe required immediate food assistance during the challenging June to August lean season.

Matt Wells, UN News

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