Israel must take urgent steps to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza: UK statement at the UN Security Council (Today)
>Over 850 civilians have been killed since the ceasefire in October, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic, and the implementation of the 20-point plan is being undermined by the trajectory in the West Bank.
>I will highlight three priority areas to unlock progress.
>First, maintaining momentum on the security transition in Gaza is vital.
>The United Kingdom supports a phased and verified decommissioning process, deployment of an International Stabilisation Force, and the training of a Palestinian police force, alongside a sequenced IDF withdrawal.
>Under the 20-point plan, Hamas has agreed to decommission its weapons and destroy military and terror infrastructure.
>It must now make good on that commitment and engage constructively in negotiations as set out by Mr Mladenov.
>Second, urgent steps must be taken by Israel to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
>**Children are living amid sewage, parasites, and disease.
>We are horrified by the images of newborn babies with rat bites on their faces.
>And the UN reports widespread infestations are now affecting almost 1.5 million people.
>The Israeli government’s indefensible restrictions on the entry of essential humanitarian equipment and supplies are making it impossible to provide minimum sanitation and water standards.**
>Resolution 2803 is absolutely clear. There must be full resumption of humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of civilian infrastructure. This must take place now and must never be used as a political lever.
>The United Nations, including UNRWA, as well as International NGOs must be able to operate with unrestricted humanitarian access in all of Gaza, in line with Israel’s obligations under international law.
It has been pointed out that 89% of Gaza's water sanitation infrastructure and plants were destroyed or damaged by Israeli forces.
Approximately 85% of sewage pumping stations (73 out of 84) and underground sewage networks have been destroyed or heavily fractured. This causes over 130,000 cubic metres of raw sewage to flood daily into the sea and directly onto residential streets.
With raw sewage water running through many overcrowded campsites, they have become breeding grounds for parasites, rodents, infections and disease.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c202m54xp0mo
With waste collection largely halted, contaminated water and refuse have accumulated near the tent cities where families sleep, cook, and wash. This has given rodents and parasites a unique environment within which they can spread, aid groups say.