Highlights of the noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General António Guterres (21 June 2024)

21 June 2024

Watch the Press Briefing from (1:11 – 2:59)

(excerpt of the press briefing focusing on Gaza conflict)

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OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that the breakdown of public order and safety is increasingly endangering humanitarian workers and operations.

Alongside the ongoing fighting, criminal activities and the risk of theft and robbery has effectively prevented humanitarian access to critical locations.

For example, since 18 June, the UN has not been able to pick up supplies from Kerem Shalom crossing. With our humanitarian partners and relevant parties, we are working to address the lack of public order and safety, alongside other impediments to a meaningful humanitarian response.

As the occupying power, it is incumbent upon the Israeli authorities to restore public order and safety as far as possible and facilitate safe humanitarian access so that assistance reaches civilians in need.

OCHA adds that humanitarian colleagues are working relentlessly to restore key services at health facilities in northern Gaza as the health system struggles to address soaring needs amid a lack of any field hospitals in the area.

In central and southern Gaza, where most of Gaza’s population is now crammed in dire conditions, only seven hospitals remain functional, all partially, including three in Deir al Balah, four in Khan Younis and none in Rafah, alongside eight field hospitals.

In addition to the lack of health facilities, our colleagues warn that the volume of medical supplies entering Gaza remains insufficient to sustain the health response. Last week, the World Health Organization delivered its first cargo – through the Ashdod port for shipment to Gaza via Karem Shalom – with enough supplies to cover the health needs of 35,000 people. While this is a welcome development, the supplies are barely a fraction of what’s needed to sustain the massive health response.

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