{"id":282799,"date":"2024-12-23T12:00:48","date_gmt":"2024-12-23T12:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=282799"},"modified":"2024-12-17T08:27:39","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T08:27:39","slug":"sickening-normalization-of-suffering-amid-attacks-on-people-and-aid-convoys-in-gaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2024\/12\/sickening-normalization-of-suffering-amid-attacks-on-people-and-aid-convoys-in-gaza\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Sickening Normalization\u2019 of Suffering, amid Attacks on People and Aid Convoys in Gaza"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_282800\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/gaza-israel-palestine-genocide-2.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-282800\" class=\"wp-image-282800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/gaza-israel-palestine-genocide-2-1024x464.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/gaza-israel-palestine-genocide-2-1024x464.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/gaza-israel-palestine-genocide-2-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/gaza-israel-palestine-genocide-2-768x348.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/gaza-israel-palestine-genocide-2.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-282800\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A UN vehicle passes through Gaza.\u00a0 \u00a9 WFP\/Jonathan Dumont<\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p>13 Dec 2024 &#8211; <em><span class=\"TextRun SCXW47497946 BCX8 NormalTextRun\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Ongoing military operations by Israeli forces in Gaza continue to cause devastation for civilians trying to escape the fighting, with mounting casualties and a critical lack of humanitarian aid for the desperate population.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"block-views-block-content-fields-block-body\" class=\"views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-fields-block-body\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"view view-content-fields view-id-content_fields view-display-id-block_body js-view-dom-id-2dafc110699ff7b2383a2dedba5b16347b7e5509e15984eb9b079af39fabb72d\">\n<div class=\"view-content\">\n<div class=\"views-row\">\n<div class=\"views-field views-field-field-news-story\">\n<div class=\"field-content\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--one-column-text paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"_none\">\n<div class=\"w-100\">\n<div class=\"layout row layout-builder__layout\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<div class=\"_none block block-layout-builder block-field-block-paragraph-one-column-text-field-text-column\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text-column field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<p>According to local media reports, 30 Palestinians were killed in the central Gaza area overnight on Friday due to airstrikes, said Louise Wateridge, Senior Emergencies Officer with UN Palestine refugee agency <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/\" class=\"ext\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-extlink=\"\">UNRWA<\/a>, speaking to reporters in Geneva from central Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe&#8217;ve seen absolutely horrific images from the scene. There are parents looking for their children, children covered in dust and blood, looking for their parents, multiple injuries on top of the casualties reported, and people still buried under the rubble,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/UNRWA\/status\/1867623141163286782\" >https:\/\/x.com\/UNRWA\/status\/1867623141163286782<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"align-right context-un_news_large_credit type-twitter media media--type-twitter media--view-mode-un-news-large-credit\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-media-twitter field--type-string field--label-visually_hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__label visually-hidden\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" class=\"\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=UN_News_Centre&amp;dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1867623141163286782&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.un.org%2Fen%2Fstory%2F2024%2F12%2F1158176&amp;sessionId=ddf17293e95d9b8b8b3c27e7514d6be81552d053&amp;siteScreenName=UN_News_Centre&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1867623141163286782\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The strikes came only one day\u202fafter the UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Highest number of child amputees worldwide<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Ms. Wateridge described the situation as\u202f\u201cabsolutely sickening,\u201d noting such daily pain and suffering has become the norm for Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n<p>Hospitals are overwhelmed, with doctors struggling to treat life-threatening injuries, prevent infections, and address treatable illnesses.\u00a0 The situation is compounded by severe shortages of essentials, including insulin, syringes, and cancer medications.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<strong>Gaza now has the highest number of child amputees per capita anywhere in the world<\/strong>. Children are among the hardest hit, with Gaza now reporting the highest per capita number of child amputees globally,\u201d Ms. Wateridge said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<strong>Many are losing their limbs. And in scenarios such as this, they&#8217;re undergoing surgeries without anaesthesia<\/strong>. I spoke to doctors at Nasser Hospital. This is the largest, semi-functioning, hospital in the Gaza Strip now. And they&#8217;re absolutely beside themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to UNRWA, nearly 26,000 people have suffered life-changing injuries in the last 14 months \u2013 all requiring rehabilitation services, particularly for amputations and spinal cord injuries, according to the World Health Organization (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.who.int\/en\/\" class=\"ext\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-extlink=\"\">WHO<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Already in May 2024, more than one in five households in Gaza reported having at least one disabled family member, with 58,000 disabled people identified in the official database of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.<\/p>\n<p>Despite continued attacks on its premises and staff, \u201cUNRWA here remains one of the largest health actors operating in the Gaza Strip,\u201d Ms. Wateridge explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUNRWA is providing 6.7 million medical consultations during the course of this war,\u201d she said, noting that lab services now are limited to three tests, out of 35 before the conflict erupted in October 2023.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Looting while famine looms<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Food insecurity also remains an urgent concern in Gaza. Experts from the UN-partnered Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee have already issued an alert over imminent famine in the northern Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s been 14 months. People here really are surviving on bread, lentils, food in tin cans. We&#8217;re not seeing fruit and vegetables around\u2026<strong>In the past four months alone, nearly 19,000 children were hospitalized due to acute malnourishment<\/strong>,\u201d\u202fMs. Wateridge said.<\/p>\n<p>Attacks on an aid convoy on Thursday claimed the lives of several guards, leaving only one truck out of 70 able to deliver food, hygiene supplies and tents to Gaza\u2019s population, after a successful UN inter-agency aid delivery the previous day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<strong>We went from having a very successful convoy where 105 trucks of food and flour did reach the population, and UNRWA distributed all of these supplies, to the complete opposite situation<\/strong>,\u201d Ms. Wateridge said, citing criminal looting and other safety risks that prevented the convoy from reaching its intended destination.<\/p>\n<div class=\"context-un_news_full_width_credit_caption type-entermedia_image media media--type-entermedia-image media--view-mode-un-news-full-width-credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-thumbnail field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"UNRWA staff organize relief supplies in Gaza.\" src=\"https:\/\/global.unitednations.entermediadb.net\/assets\/mediadb\/services\/module\/asset\/downloads\/preset\/Collections\/Embargoed\/01-11-2024-UNRWA-Gaza-03.jpg\/image1170x530cropped.jpg\" alt=\"UNRWA staff organize relief supplies in Gaza.\" width=\"1170\" height=\"530\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-authors field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a9 UNRWA -UNRWA staff organize relief supplies in Gaza.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Delivering amid immense difficulties<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Meanwhile, UNRWA continues to be the backbone of health and humanitarian aid in the Gaza strip even as its staff risk their lives on a daily basis.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<strong>We have had colleagues killed. My colleagues have had family members killed<\/strong>,\u201d Ms. Wateridge explained. \u201cThe suffering just continues. The sadness continues. It&#8217;s very difficult to continue operating under these circumstances for everyone, for all humanitarians.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Separately, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory said he is very concerned about the\u202frapidly\u202fdeteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Gaza, noting that recent multiple strikes have resulted in scores of reported fatalities and numerous injuries.<\/p>\n<p>Muhannad Hadi also expressed concern at the insecurity that has hampered UN aid convoys, two of which were looted on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>He said that the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attacks must be respected at all times, while calling on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and the safe and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Situation in North Gaza<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The UN humanitarian affairs office, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unocha.org\/\" class=\"ext\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-extlink=\"\">OCHA<\/a>, reported that since the intensification of the Israeli military operation in North Gaza governorate two months ago, <strong>all UN attempts to reach besieged areas there were either denied or impeded by Israeli authorities<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Since 6 October, the UN and partners have tried to coordinate 137 missions to those parts of the north and 124 were denied outright. The other 13 were approved but then faced impediments along the way.<\/p>\n<p>The UN has submitted 16 requests since this past Monday and almost all were flat-out denied. The only mission given the greenlight was prevented from moving into all the areas it set out to reach.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<strong>OCHA stresses once again that humanitarian movements must be facilitated across Gaza<\/strong>, including to areas in the north, where thousands of Palestinians are facing apocalyptic conditions after almost 10 weeks under siege,\u201d the agency said.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/12\/1158176\" >Go to Original &#8211; news.un.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>13 Dec 2024 &#8211; Ongoing military operations by Israeli forces in Gaza continue to cause devastation for civilians trying to escape the fighting, with mounting casualties and a critical lack of humanitarian aid for the desperate population.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":282800,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[3287,1161,417,554,1854,101,100,87,865,487,88,2571,427,818,880,99,539,124,70,965,481,886],"class_list":["post-282799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-united-nations","tag-anti-zionism","tag-arms-industry","tag-bullying","tag-children","tag-crimes-against-humanity","tag-cultural-violence","tag-direct-violence","tag-gaza","tag-genocide","tag-human-rights","tag-israel","tag-official-lies-and-narratives","tag-palestine","tag-proxy-war","tag-state-terrorism","tag-structural-violence","tag-unicef","tag-united-nations","tag-usa","tag-war-crimes","tag-warfare","tag-zionism"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=282799"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282799\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":282801,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282799\/revisions\/282801"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/282800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=282799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=282799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=282799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}