According to a report by the UN Refugee Agency, more than 1.5 million people in the Gaza Strip are estimated to be internally displaced, including nearly 800,000 people who are staying in at least 154 U.N. shelters. An additional 200,000 people have fled northern Gaza since November 5th as Israeli ground forces continue to advance. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening, with power running out and millions needing vital aid.
As of November 13, 2023, 16 out of 35 hospitals in the Gaza Strip have shut down due to Israeli bombing or fuel shortages. The United Nations has said that Israel may be breaking international law through collective punishment in its siege on Gaza. The UN has also said that there is evidence that international humanitarian law may have been breached by both sides in the conflict.
The Geneva Convention states that it is illegal to attack hospitals and other medical facilities during armed conflict. The UN Human Rights Council has also condemned the bombing of hospitals and schools in Gaza as crimes against humanity.
Despite the severity of the situation, world leaders have been largely silent on the issue. The European Union has called for “humanitarian corridors and pauses” in the shelling in Gaza to allow food, water, and medical supplies to reach Palestinians. However, there has been little action taken by other world leaders to stop the conflict.
It is time for world leaders to take action and put an end to the violence and suffering of innocent people.
Mahboob Azam 