FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – The leaders of six United Nations (UN) agencies issued a joint statement, urging the international community to act swiftly to reinstate a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, ensure unhindered humanitarian access, and safeguard civilian lives.
The statement—signed by the heads of OCHA, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNRWA, WFP, and WHO—warned of the dire situation in Gaza, where over 2.1 million people remain trapped amid ongoing bombardment and severe shortages.
For more than a month, critical aid supplies, including food, medicine, and fuel, have been blocked at border crossings, unable to reach those in need.
According to recent reports, over 1,000 children were killed or injured in the first week after the ceasefire collapsed—marking the highest weekly toll for children in Gaza within the past year.
Additionally, new Israeli evacuation orders have displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with limited or no safe refuge, the statement noted.
The agencies also highlighted the toll on humanitarian workers, with 408 reported fatalities since October 2023, including more than 280 UNRWA staff members.
“We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life,” the statement declared, calling on world leaders to act immediately to uphold international humanitarian law and renew a ceasefire. The appeal concluded with a firm call to “Protect civilians. Facilitate aid. Release hostages. Renew a ceasefire.”