Posted on 23 February 2024
The UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs Martin Griffiths said deteriorating situation in Gaza is the worst humanitarian crisis he has ever seen in his 50-year career. He said it was worse than "awful scenes" he witnessed during the civil war in Syria a few years ago and worse than the "horrors" that were the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in the 1970s. He compared the severity of the crisis to past conflicts, highlighting the unique challenges faced by Gaza's population due to blockades and limited options for relocation. He stressed the urgency of finding a negotiated solution to the conflict, stressing the importance of dialogue even with terrorist groups for achieving lasting peace.
According to ABC News, Gaza health officials reported 133 new Palestinian deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 28,473 since Hamas's attack in Israel on October 7. The densely populated Gaza Strip is in ruins, with many people believed to be buried under rubble. Essential supplies are running out, diseases are spreading, and about half of Gaza's 2.3 million people are now squeeze into Rafah.