Carnage in Gaza Cannot Be Allowed to Continue, Says Martin Griffiths

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG-ERC) Martin Griffiths affirmed that the carnage in Gaza cannot be allowed to continue.

In a statement, Griffiths said: “As the carnage in Gaza reaches new levels of horror every day, the world continues to watch in shock as hospitals come under fire, premature babies die, and an entire population is deprived of the basic means of survival.”

He called on warring parties to respect international humanitarian law and to agree to a humanitarian ceasefire.

“This cannot be allowed to continue.”

In the same connection, Griffiths stressed that the United Nations and its humanitarian partners have been in Gaza for decades, and they are committed to responding to the increasing humanitarian needs. They are guided by the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.

He urged the parties and the broader international community to support and implement the following plan:

1. Aid agencies should be allowed to bring in a continuous flow of aid convoys and to do so safely.

2. Additional crossing points for aid and commercial trucks, including Kerem Shalom, should be opened.

3. The UN, other humanitarian organizations, and public and private sector entities should be allowed access to sufficient quantities of fuel to deliver aid and provide basic services.

4. Humanitarian organizations should be allowed to deliver aid throughout Gaza without impediment or interference.

5. The number of safe shelters for displaced people in schools and other public facilities across Gaza should be increased, and they should remain places of safety throughout hostilities.

6. A humanitarian notification mechanism should be improved to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure from hostilities and facilitate humanitarian access.

7. Relief distribution hubs for civilians should be set up, according to needs.

8. Civilians should be allowed to move to safer areas and to voluntarily return to their residences.

9. The humanitarian response, which amounts to $1.2 billion, should be funded.

10. A humanitarian ceasefire is necessary to allow basic services to restart and essential commercial trade to resume. Such a ceasefire is also vital to facilitate the delivery of aid, allow the release of hostages, and provide respite to civilians.

“These are the actions required to bring an end to the carnage. The plan is comprehensive, and we are determined to push for every step, but we need broad international support. The world must act before it is too late,” he concluded.