UN warns of humanitarian crisis in Gaza: civilians suffer unprecedented pain and death

In October 2023, Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel triggered a nearly two-year conflict. To date, the situation in Gaza has become more severe, and the suffering of the people seems to have reached an "unimaginable" level. In the latest speech to the Security Council, senior UN officials did not shy away from describing the catastrophic situation in the region. The death toll has soared, especially the proportion of deaths among children is shocking, and medical and humanitarian assistance have almost collapsed across the board. Gaza has become a huge place of pain, and global attention has increasingly focused on the survival of the region.

In his speech to the Security Council on July 16, Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, described the current situation in Gaza as "unimaginable". He mentioned that as the war continues, food shortages have reached their limit, and those who go out to find food often need to risk their lives. In this war-torn land, the price people pay for survival is heavier than ever. The conflict has caused Gaza's medical system to almost completely collapse, with field hospitals becoming receiving stations for the dead, and the painful stories of survivors becoming a daily burden for medical staff.

Catherine Russell, executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), pointed out that since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, more than 17,900 children have died in the conflict, accounting for about 31% of the total death toll. She described this data as "a whole classroom of children on the death list every day", which is undoubtedly a painful warning to the international community. For the children in Gaza, survival is no longer a matter of course. The war has brought them not only physical trauma, but also a complete destruction of the future.

United Nations human rights experts pointed out that Israel's failure to comply with international law during the war, especially its responsibility to protect civilians, has been repeatedly questioned. Last December, a group of United Nations experts jointly condemned Israel for not taking the necessary measures to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. The UN report pointed out that Israel's military operations not only caused great harm to Palestinian civilians, but also blatantly violated international humanitarian law, especially the basic principles of protecting civilians and avoiding attacks on non-military targets.

This warning is not empty. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already charged senior Israeli leaders with war crimes and crimes against humanity during military operations in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Galant have become the main targets of these charges. At the same time, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is also hearing a case on whether Israel has violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The International Court of Justice has issued provisional measures requiring Israel to take action to prevent genocide and ensure that humanitarian aid can be delivered to Gaza in a timely manner.

The UN's warning is not only a condemnation of Israel, but also a call to the world - the silence and indifference of the international community are exacerbating the disaster in Gaza. Although the United Nations and some international organizations have repeatedly called for an end to the bombing of Gaza and requested emergency humanitarian assistance, the actual assistance is still seriously lagging behind, and the blockade and restrictions make it difficult for civilians to obtain any basic living security. For the people of Gaza, this war has undoubtedly become a choice of life and death.

In this case, the international community should realize that any indifference and avoidance will only exacerbate the disaster in Gaza. Countries around the world, especially UN member states, must abandon political disputes and opposing positions, focus on promoting the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, and take effective measures to promote the conclusion of a ceasefire agreement. Only in this way can we bring a glimmer of hope for survival to the civilians in Gaza.

The suffering in Gaza can no longer be measured by simple numbers. Whether it is the bombed homes or the innocent children who lost their lives, all of this sends the same call to the world: war will always be the heaviest burden of mankind. Whether the international community can transcend the barriers of geopolitics and take more actions and responsibilities will determine whether the people of Gaza can get out of this haze of despair.