Rabat – The Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council Jan Egeland has raised the alarm over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying that nowhere in the world have so many people been trapped under intensive bombardment for an extended period as long as this.
“Over the past 100 days the people of Gaza have been subjected to one of the worst humanitarian crises faced by any civilian population this century,” Egeland said in a statement.
She highlighted that the Israeli occupation forces have killed more than 10,000 Palestinian children, surpassing the child casualties in every recent global war. This shocking reality is a “grim testament to the unparalleled tragedy unfolding in Gaza,” she added.
The secretary-general went on to express frustration with world leaders, stating that, for over three months, the agony of innocent Palestinians in Gaza has been broadcasted globally, yet international efforts to prevent civilian suffering have fallen short.
“The fate of the besieged population of Gaza, which may soon be engulfed in famine, is a stain on Israel and on those countries who continue to provide arms and political support,” she stressed.
In addition, she called for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, as well as the resumption of relief and aid delivery across Gaza, saying that it is “the only hope for an end to this hemorrhaging of human life.”
“Israel continues to severely restrict the delivery of life-saving aid,” Egeland added, noting that a “mere trickle of supplies” manage to reach the besieged strip which is home to hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians who continue to lack access to medical care, food, and clean water.
Exacerbating the dire situation for Palestinians is the looming winter, as the vast majority of Palestinians are unprepared for the harsh cold.
Norwegian physician Mads Gilbert has warned of an escalating risk of deadly hypothermia among the already vulnerable population, expressing deep concern for the impending “unbearable avalanche of human suffering.”
