Without a fundamental change, the people of Gaza will face an unprecedented avalanche of human suffering, warns the UN chief.

 

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Friday that the humanitarian system in Gaza is facing a total collapse with unimaginable consequences for more than 2 million civilians.

 

As the bombing intensifies, needs are growing ever more critical and colossal. Yet far too small amounts of supplies are coming into Gaza, he said in a statement.

 

"Given the desperate and dramatic situation, the United Nations will not be able to continue to deliver inside Gaza without an immediate and fundamental shift in how aid is going in," Guterres said.

 

According to the UN chief, about 500 trucks per day were crossing into Gaza before the hostilities began on Oct. 7, but in recent days, an average of only 12 trucks per day have entered, despite needs being far greater than at any time before. In addition, the supplies that have trickled in do not include fuel for UN operations, while fuel is also essential to power hospitals, water desalination plants, food production and aid distribution.

 

The verification system for the movement of goods through the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border must be adjusted to allow many more trucks to enter Gaza without delay, he said. "We must meet the expectations and core needs of civilians in Gaza. Life-saving humanitarian aid -- food, water, medicine, fuel -- must be allowed to reach all civilians swiftly, safely and at scale."

 

Guterres welcomed the growing global consensus for a humanitarian pause in the conflict, and repeated his call for a humanitarian cease-fire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the delivery of life-saving supplies at the scale needed.

 

Without a fundamental change, the people of Gaza will face an unprecedented avalanche of human suffering, warned the UN chief.

 

"Everyone must assume their responsibilities. This is a moment of truth. History is judging us all," he said.