Guterres urges immediate action to prevent Israel-Gaza conflict spill over
Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 12th Oct. UN head António Guterres on Wednesday expressed his grave concern over the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza and stressed the need to prevent the violence from spreading into the wider region.
Guterres raised alarm over clashes along the Blue Line, the demarcation between Israel and Lebanon, and reported attacks from southern Lebanon.
“I appeal to all parties and those who have an influence over those parties – to avoid any further escalation and spillover,” he told reporters in New York.
Mr. Guterres reiterated the need to always protect civilians, as guaranteed by international law.
“I call for the immediate release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza,” he said.
He underscored that UN premises, hospitals, schools and clinics must never be targeted, and stressed the urgency of humanitarian access to the enclave.
“Crucial life-saving supplies – including fuel, food and water – must be allowed into Gaza. We need rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access now,” he stated.
OCHA said that the death toll in Israel from attacks by Palestinian armed groups Hamas and in Gaza due to Israeli bombardments has continued to rise, with mass displacement soaring across the enclave.
OCHA cited Israeli media reports that more than 1,000 Israelis, including foreign nationals, were killed and at least 2,806 people were injured, according to the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza said 830 Palestinians have been killed and 4,250 injured.
Over 260,000 people have been displaced since the start of the current conflict on 7 October and the numbers are rising fast.
UN agency for Palestine refugees reported that eleven of its staff members have been killed since Saturday, while 30 students at its schools died and a further eight injured.
Over 220,000 Palestinians have sought shelter in about 90 UNRWA facilities across the enclave.
UNRWA Director of Communications Juliette Touma told that many staff are still working.
She said “We have people who are responding to the needs of the people in the shelters. They are giving them mattresses, a place to sleep, clean water, some food, in cooperation with the WFP.”
UN agencies, including WFP, highlighted the urgency of humanitarian corridors, and safe and unimpeded access passage for personnel.
Samer Abdeljaber, Palestine Country Director, described the situation as “devastating”.
“We are on the ground doing everything we can to be sure the people in need – the ones who fled their homes, the ones living in shelters – are getting the food and help they need to survive.”
WFP initiated food distribution to 100,000 people in UNRWA shelters, with a target of reaching over 800,000, requiring $17.3 million for immediate relief and $45 million over six months.
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, continues engagement with parties to the conflict and key stakeholders.
Mr. Wennesland held “productive meetings” on Wednesday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and other senior officials, according to a post on his official account on X, formerly Twitter.
He said the priority is to avoid further loss of civilian lives and provide access for humanitarian aid into Gaza.
UN humanitarian affairs office official in the enclave, Hamada El Bayari, said there was “not one immune centimetre in Gaza where people can feel secure.”
He said around 340,000 civilians were now displaced, around 65 percent of them doing their best to shelter from Israeli airstrikes, at UNRWA schools or designated shelters.
“What we are witnessing is really beyond imagination. The toll this war is taking is really huge and seems unprecedented.”
He warned that with public services shut down by Israel and a near complete blackout, the failure of the sewage system was another potential disaster waiting to happen.
At this point of time, every minute that passes, makes it worse”, he said.
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