11 November
“Hospitals much be places of greater safety and those who need them must trust that they are places of shelter and not of war.”
UN relief and humanitarian affairs chief, Martin Griffiths
10 November
Between 7 and 9 November, UNRWA Acting Deputy Commissioner-General Natalie Boucly held a series of high-level meetings in Brussels to discuss the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza and UNRWA’s need for continuous support to ensure its vital role in Gaza and in the region.
The UN rights chief Volker Türk reiterated increasingly urgent calls on Friday for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow lifesaving relief to reach Gaza, the release of all hostages taken from Israel and a “sustainable” end to the “nightmarish” situation for those trapped in the enclave.
UN Flags will fly at half-mast on Monday to pay tribute to the 99 UNRWA colleagues who have lost their lives during the bombardment and fighting so far.
The EU coordinates further 6 Humanitarian Air Bridge flights for Gaza. In total, this brings EU air bridge flights to 14 in the past weeks with over 550 tonnes of emergency aid for the people of Gaza being transported to Egypt for quick deployment across the Rafah border crossing point. (EU ECHO)
9 November
Any plans for short-term pauses in the fighting in Gaza must be carried out in coordination with the UN and following agreement by all sides, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General said on Thursday during his regular press briefing from New York.
The Spokesperson was responding to a journalist’s question following the White House’s announcement that Israel has agreed to halt military operations in northern Gaza to allow daily four-hour humanitarian pauses.
Despite enormous risks, UNRWA has facilitated delivery of WHO emergency medical supplies & medicines to Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
The aid is a lifeline of hope, but much more assistance is needed. Al Quds hospital in Gaza City had to shut down key services on Wednesday, while the only provider of maternity services in north Gaza – Al Awda hospital – has warned of imminent closure.
8 November
“Carrying out hostilities with the knowledge that they will systematically destroy and damage civilian housing and infrastructure, rendering an entire city — such as Gaza city – uninhabitable for civilians is a war crime,” said Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians still in northern Gaza face unprecedented hardship after being isolated by Israeli military operations, while a medical convoy sent by the UN and partners was fired on in Gaza City, the Organization’s humanitarians said on Wednesday.
