DaysofPal—United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has described the scale of destruction and loss of life in Gaza as a catastrophe with “no parallel in modern times,” renewing his urgent call for an immediate ceasefire.
He warned that the humanitarian crisis has reached horrifying dimensions, with Gaza facing what he called a “humanitarian hell.”
In his latest remarks, Guterres emphasized that the ongoing military operations, combined with the suffocating blockade, have devastated the Gaza Strip.
He painted a grim picture of daily life for Palestinians, marked by the collapse of essential services and severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.
Fuel, he said, is nearly depleted, which has led to the shutdown of many hospitals and water desalination plants. As a result, residents are being forced to depend on makeshift and often unsafe water distribution points.
Guterres added that “The search for food and water should not be a death sentence,” referring to the alarming rise in the number of civilians being killed as they attempt to reach aid distribution sites.
In a rare and direct criticism, he stated that the current aid system, including the one backed by the United States, is contributing to civilian deaths and urgently needs to be restructured to ensure safe and effective delivery of relief supplies.
Guterres stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire, arguing that it is the only way to prevent further loss of civilian life.
He called on the international community to act without delay to open humanitarian corridors that are safe, unconditional, and sustainable.
He also demanded independent investigations into the attacks targeting civilians and distribution points. Guterres reiterated the importance of full compliance with international humanitarian law, particularly in protecting children and civilian infrastructure.
Concluding his statement, Guterres said the situation in Gaza exceeds even the worst humanitarian disasters the world has seen in recent years. “There is no place in the world experiencing such destruction and suffering,” he warned.
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