UN Humanitarian Coordinator urges support for injured, bereaved in Gaza

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Jamie McGoldrick, has called for urgent support to meet the needs of Palestinian victims of Israeli violence in the occupied Gaza Strip.

“The situation in Gaza is devastating and the crisis is far from over,” said McGoldrick. “For every person killed and injured this week and those before, there is a family and a network of friends affected.”

“For many, especially those who lost a loved one, who will now suffer a permanent disability or who will need intensive rehabilitation, the impacts of recent violence will be felt for months and years to come.”

The United Nations statement noted that “in the context of a massive rise in Palestinian fatalities and injuries since 30 March, the humanitarian response in Gaza is focused on providing immediate life-saving healthcare, mental health and psycho-social support for affected people, especially children, and monitoring, verifying and documenting possible protection violations”.

Read: Pope expresses deep sorrow over Gaza massacre

In addition, “these new needs occur in the context of a pre-existing humanitarian and human rights catastrophe caused by nearly 11 years of Israeli blockade, alongside internal Palestinian political divide and a chronic energy crisis that leaves Gaza’s two million inhabitants with power cuts of up to 22 hours per day, on average, and severely disrupts the provision of essential services.”

Medical teams in Gaza have exerted heroic efforts, working tirelessly and often at personal risk, to save lives

said McGoldrick. “But stocks of medicines and supplies are being depleted, with few resources to replenish them”.

“Our ability to reach affected families, including children, and provide assistance is extremely limited due to funding shortfalls. Without new funding, the impact on the survivors of recent events will be far worse and our ability to respond to any new needs will be severely limited.”