The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory said that the scale of needs is unprecedented in the Gaza Strip. He said that teams are on the ground assessing needs and providing relief and emphasized the need for a sustained halt to the violence.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
Briefing the Security Council today on South Sudan, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations said that the country was on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe and a protracted internal conflict. He stressed that the parties needed to reach an agreement without delay on how to end it and embark on the path of reconciliation.
The Secretary-General welcomed the new ceasefire in Gaza that began today, and urged the Palestinian and Israeli parties to commence talks in Cairo as soon as possible on a durable ceasefire and the underlying issues.
The Secretary-General condemned the killing of Palestinian civilians in shelling outside a school in Rafah, run by the UN Relief and Works Agency that was providing shelter to thousands of civilians. This attack must be investigated and those responsible held accountable.
The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the reported violation by Hamas of the mutually agreed humanitarian ceasefire, expressing his shock and profound disappointment. He is also deeply concerned about the resumption of Israeli attacks on Gaza and the killing of over 70 Palestinians this morning.
The number of individuals infected with the Ebola virus in western Africa continues to grow, with 1,323 confirmed cases, including 729 deaths. The World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization are working to facilitate repatriation flights and air ambulance services in affected areas.
The Secretary-General condemned the attack on Jabalia Elementary Girls School in Gaza. He called the attack outrageous and unjustifiable and made the point that it demands accountability and Justice. He called on the parties to agree to an immediate unconditional ceasefire.
The Secretary-General called on parties to build on the current calm in the Middle East. With hundreds of Palestinian civilians killed in Gaza and horrifying levels of physical destruction, he urges those responsible to step back from provoking or inflicting yet more violence on civilians there.
In Cairo, the Secretary-General continued to hold intense discussions with key interlocutors, including the Egyptian Foreign Minister and the United States Secretary of State towards a possible ceasefire in Israel and Gaza. He was also briefed on the humanitarian situation, via video link, by United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine and the Near East staff in Gaza.
Addressing the press today in Iraq, the Secretary-General said he is appalled by the reported attack on a UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East school in Gaza where hundreds had taken refuge. Many have been killed — including women and children, as well as UN staff. He urged all sides to respect the sanctity of civilian life.