UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, which has endured relentless Zionist assaults since October 2023 and has been subjected to a complete blockade for several months. He emphasized that the situation constitutes a “human-made catastrophe,” especially following the official declaration of famine by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
In a message shared on social media, Guterres described the humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian enclave as a “living hell.” He reiterated that this crisis is “not a mystery,” characterizing it as a “moral indictment and a failure of humanity.”
The report released by the IPC indicates substantial evidence that famine has been affecting the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, since August 15.
In this context, Guterres reminded the international community that under international law, access to food and medical aid must be guaranteed in Gaza. “We cannot allow this situation to continue with impunity,” he asserted.
On Friday, the UN officially declared famine in Gaza, marking the first such occurrence in the Middle East, after experts warned that 500,000 people were in a “catastrophic” state.
“It is a famine that we could have prevented if we had been allowed, yet food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel,,” stated Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. “This famine will and must haunt us all,” he added.
