Children in Gaza Are Starving. Let the U.N. Do Its Job : Catherine Russell / NY Times and Middle East Monitor
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Article shared by Tom McDermott
Click here for the op-ed in the NY Times
Summary
In a New York Times op-ed, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell denounces the Israeli-American-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution plan as “complete chaos.” She argues that the new system bypasses the UN and concentrates aid in a few militarized sites protected by Israeli soldiers and American private contractors—undermining humanitarian neutrality and exposing civilians to danger.
Before hostilities resumed, UNICEF and other UN agencies operated more than 400 distribution points across Gaza, including shelters and direct-to-household aid for malnourished children and pregnant women. The new GHF-led mechanism, Russell writes, forces civilians to travel long distances through unsafe areas and distributes only about 10% of the aid delivered during the last ceasefire. The contents of the so-called “family boxes” are grossly inadequate for supporting a population of 2.1 million.
Russell reports that nearly 17,000 children have been killed and 34,000 injured over the course of the war—about one in every 20 children in Gaza. With nearly half a million people now facing starvation, and over 71,000 children expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in the coming months, she calls for the full restoration of the UN-led aid pipeline, a durable ceasefire, and respect for international humanitarian law. The alternative, she warns, is the militarization of aid and further devastation for Gaza’s children.
Quotes“I urge all parties... to let us and our humanitarian partners get on with our work.”
“The new aid distribution mechanism contradicts humanitarian principles and fails to meet Israel’s obligations under international law.”
“As the chaotic scenes made clear, rather than increasing access to lifesaving supplies, the new aid distribution plan... threatens to make things worse.”
“Having a limited number of distribution sites will force civilians to travel far... exposing them to violence.”
“There are concerns that aid distribution sites could become potential military targets due to the presence of American and Israeli security personnel.”
“Our team on the ground reports these boxes are woefully insufficient for ensuring children’s well-being.”
Gratitude to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell for this principled and courageous op-ed in the best tradition of UNICEF: Children in Gaza Are Starving. Let the UN Do Its Job.
ReplyDeleteUnlike the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, OCHA & their partners know how to get humanitarian aid inspected, cleared, offloaded & delivered — without diversion, without delay, and with dignity.
"As the chaotic scenes made clear, rather than increasing access to lifesaving supplies, the new aid distribution plan, facilitated by an organization called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, threatens to make things worse.
"We believe this new mechanism is also incompatible with humanitarian principles, including neutrality, impartiality and independence, and fails to meet Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law. That law requires parties to a conflict to allow and facilitate rapid, safe and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance.
"Israel has defended the new distribution effort as a way to prevent Hamas from stealing supplies. But the United Nations and its partners already know how to get humanitarian aid inspected, cleared, offloaded and delivered — without diversion, without delay and with dignity.
"I urge all parties and those with influence over them to let us and our humanitarian partners get on with our work. The alternative risks the militarization of humanitarian aid and would very likely doom Gaza’s children to more suffering and death".
Well said, Ms. Russell. Thank you!
I join Kul in thanking ED Russell for this statement. From all the many that were made in the past months this is by f@r the most direct, the most blunt and in -your face admonition about the catastrophe in Gaza/Palestine. Political correctness has given way to professionalism and humanitarianism….Bravo !
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