The Gaza Strip has descended into anarchy, with rising famine, widespread looting and increasingly frequent rapes in refugee camps, while law and order has collapsed, an official said. United Nations.
The extent of the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza “must be seen to be truly understood”said Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN human rights office in the Palestinian territories, after his latest visit to Gaza. “I was particularly alarmed by the level of hungerdeclared Mr. Sunghay during a press briefing. The breakdown of law and order and security is exacerbating the situation, with widespread looting and struggles over scarce resources. »
“The anarchy in Gaza, about which we sounded the alarm months ago, is here”he said, emphasizing that the predictable situation could have been avoided. Mr Sunghay said young women, many of whom have been displaced repeatedly, have reported a lack of safe spaces and privacy in their makeshift tents. “Some say cases of gender-based violence and rape, child abuse and other forms of violence in refugee camps have increased”due to the war and the breakdown of public order, he added.
Mr. Sunghay described the situation in Gaza City as « horrible »with thousands of displaced people taking refuge in “inhumane conditions, with serious food shortages and terrible sanitary conditions”. He said he saw, for the first time, dozens of Gazan women and children rummaging through waste from giant landfills. The level of destruction in Gaza “only gets worse”he added. “Everyone I have met is asking for an end to this situation. Enough “he asserted.
The spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Jeremy Laurence, called for an immediate ceasefire. “The killings must stop”affirmed Mr. Laurence, “The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. Those arbitrarily detained must be released”. “Every effort must be made to urgently provide all the food, medicine and life-saving aid that Gaza desperately needs”he insisted.
