Living conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, with reports
of an increase in diarrhoea and suspected cases of Hepatitis A,
UN humanitarians warned on Thursday.
The UN agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA) is continuing to
provide healthcare as best it can but overcrowded shelters and
limited sanitation services, coupled with forced displacement,
are posing severe health risks, the agency said in
a post on X.
Furthermore, safe water is unaffordable for many, and people are
resorting to burning trash to cook with, the UN Office for
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) added.
Aid operations ‘near collapse'
There are also serious concerns that humanitarian operations in
the enclave “are near collapse”.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned in
a bulletin that if food
and humanitarian supplies do not begin to enter Gaza in “massive
quantities”, desperation and hunger will spread.
“The limited functionality of the southern border crossings, key
arteries for getting aid in, means that barely any
fuel or aid is getting into any part of Gaza. There are
currently no food distributions taking place in the south of Gaza
except for some limited stocks that are given to community
kitchens for hot meals,” it noted.
All bakeries in Rafah have shut down. However, as of Wednesday,
the agency was still able to support six bakeries in central
Gaza, four in Gaza City and one in Jabalia.
Multiple allegations of torture
Also on Thursday, a UN independent human rights expert urged the
Government of Israel to investigate multiple allegations of
torture and other degrading treatment against detained
Palestinians since 7 October last year.
Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on
torture emphasized that anyone deprived of their liberty
must always be treated humanely.
“They must be provided with all protections required under
international human rights and humanitarian
law, whatever the circumstances of their
detention,” she said in a news release.
The Human Rights
Council-appointed expert said she has received allegations of
individuals being beaten, kept in cells blindfolded and
handcuffed for excessive periods, deprived of sleep, and
threatened with physical and sexual violence.
Other reports suggest prisoners have been insulted and exposed to
acts of humiliation, such as being photographed and filmed in
degrading poses, while prolonged use of zip-tie handcuffs has
reportedly caused friction injuries and wounds.
Absence of accountability
“I am particularly concerned that this emerging pattern of
violations, coupled with an absence of accountability and
transparency, is creating a permissive environment for further
abusive and humiliating treatment of Palestinians,” Ms. Edwards
said.
Since the brutal attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed
groups on Israeli communities on 7 October 2023 and the ensuing
Israeli military offensive in Gaza, it is estimated that
thousands of Palestinians from Gaza as well as the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem, have been detained – including some
children.
Special Rapporteurs are mandated by the Geneva-based Human Rights
Council to monitor thematic human rights and country situations.
They operate independent of the UN and national governments, are
not UN staff and do not draw a salary.
