By Hosea Parah, Abuja
A devastating humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Gaza as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict escalates. The ongoing war has resulted in a high number of casualties, mass graves, and widespread destruction, with Gaza at the center of the crisis.
According to Ambassador Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh of the Embassy of the State of Palestine to Nigeria in a press conference on Wednesday disclosed that the number of Palestinian casualties has reached a shocking 34,789, with 78,204 injured. In the Occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, 474 Palestinians, including 116 children, have been killed since October 7, 2024, and around 5,000 have been injured.
Disturbing reports have emerged of mass graves discovered in the Gaza Strip, with over 390 bodies found at Nasser and Al Shifa hospitals. Many of the victims, including women and children, showed signs of torture and summary executions, horrifying the international community.
He said the situation in Gaza is worsened by dire living conditions. Famine is imminent, with 1.1 million people, half of the population, facing catastrophic food insecurity. This is the highest proportion of a population facing such a crisis globally. Approximately 15,000 pregnant women are on the brink of famine, posing a significant risk to both mothers and newborns. Malnutrition rates among children under two have doubled since January, with one in three suffering from acute malnutrition.
“The healthcare system in Gaza is on the verge of collapse, with only 12 out of 36 hospitals and 22 of the primary health care facilities partially operational. These facilities are overwhelmed with patients and face critical shortages of fuel, medicine, supplies, and medical staff”.
He added that the devastating loss of life and dire humanitarian situation, aid workers and journalists have also been significantly affected. At least 254 aid workers, including 185 UN staff, have been killed, marking the highest number of UN personnel killed in a conflict in the organization’s history. Palestinian journalists covering the Israeli genocidal war in Gaza have been recognized for their brave work, with UNESCO awarding them the 2024 UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. Tragically, 135 press correspondents have been killed, 100 detained, 45 held under administrative detention, and 4 remain missing.
Ambassador Shawesh urgently calls on the international community to take action, calling for an end to the violence, protection of civilians, and the provision of humanitarian aid. It is crucial that concerted efforts are made to bring about a lasting and just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as the world witnesses an unprecedented level of death, destruction, and human suffering.