On October 15, the United Nations (UN) warned of the serious situation in the Middle East, saying that more than 1 million people have been forced to evacuate from the northern Gaza Strip since the conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas forces on October 7.
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| Palestinians line up to collect water in the southern Gaza Strip on October 15 after Israel resumed supplies to the area. Photo: Reuters |
In a statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the Gaza Strip was running out of electricity, water and other essential supplies. The UN chief noted that UN stocks of food, water, medical supplies and fuel in Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank and Israel could be moved within hours, so staff needed to be facilitated to move these goods into Gaza smoothly and safely.
Accordingly, Mr. Guterres called on Israel to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and for Hamas to immediately release all those being detained. The UN Secretary-General affirmed that the UN has the responsibility to make both calls because the Middle East region is "on the brink of the abyss".
Israel has previously ordered 1.1 million Palestinians to leave northern Gaza. The Israeli army announced on October 15 that it was ready for a ground offensive against Hamas forces in Gaza.
The head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini said an estimated 1 million people had been displaced from their homes in the first week of the conflict in the Gaza Strip and the number was expected to rise in the coming time.
The UN official also warned that Gaza was facing an “unprecedented humanitarian disaster” due to the blockade and bombing. Speaking to reporters, he called for alarm bells to be sounded because UNRWA staff in Gaza were currently unable to deliver humanitarian aid to the population.
Health authorities in the Gaza Strip said at least 2,670 people have been killed and 9,600 injured in Israeli airstrikes on the territory since October 7. Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that more than 1,400 people in the country have been killed while 120 Israelis have been captured by Hamas.
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