• "Gaza becoming a graveyard for children": UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

    International
    "Gaza becoming a graveyard for children": UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

    The UN Secretary-General's appeal comes four weeks after Israel declared war on Hamas following the terrorist organization's devastating attack on October 7...

    Digital Desk: The conflict between Israel and Hamas shows no signs of abating, with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issuing a grave warning. Speaking in New York, Guterres declared that Gaza has become a "graveyard for children." He emphasized that the situation transcends a mere humanitarian crisis and has evolved into a dire crisis of humanity, urging an immediate ceasefire.


    "The parties to the conflict—and, indeed, the international community—face an immediate and fundamental responsibility: to stop this inhuman collective suffering and dramatically expand humanitarian aid to Gaza," Guterres stressed, according to CNN. He went on to reveal that at least 89 members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) have lost their lives since the Israel-Hamas war commenced a month ago.


    In a heartfelt message on his official account, Guterres expressed his condolences: "More @UN aid workers have been killed in recent weeks than in any comparable period in the history of our organization. I join in the mourning of 89 of our @UNRWA colleagues who have been killed in Gaza—many of them with members of their family."

    Also Read : Magnitude of 3.6 jolts Nepal again; aftershocks after 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Jajarkot leave Death toll count to 157


    The UN Secretary-General's appeal comes four weeks after Israel declared war on Hamas following the terrorist organization's devastating attack on October 7, which resulted in the death of 1,400 people in Israel and the kidnapping of approximately 240 others. In retaliation, Israel launched an air and ground offensive on Gaza, with the determination to eliminate the militant group.


    Pregnant Women and New Mothers in Dire Conditions


    The UN also disclosed that thousands of pregnant women and new mothers are facing dire conditions in Gaza amid the ongoing war. The intergovernmental organization reported that as many as 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza are unable to access routine maternal health care. Additionally, 180 women are giving birth there every day, with a staggering 5,500 babies born since the outbreak of the war on October 7.


    Dr. Natalia Kanem, the head of the U.N. agency that promotes reproductive and sexual health, made a passionate plea during a UN press conference. She urgently called for fuel for hospitals and incubators, clean water, food for pregnant and lactating women, and a humanitarian ceasefire. Dr. Kanem emphasized the critical need for incubators and oxygen in hospitals, which require fuel, especially for Caesarean section deliveries.


    Israel-Hamas War Continues to Escalate


    The conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated following a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel's southern communities on October 7, resulting in over 1,400 Israeli casualties and the kidnapping of more than 240 individuals. Israel responded with a counter-offensive, leading to over 9,000 casualties in Gaza. The Israeli response began with widespread air strikes and subsequently intensified with ground incursions, marking a grim milestone in the ongoing conflict.