The top UN humanitarian official for Gaza said on Monday that the situation in the war-ravaged enclave remains “absolutely catastrophic”, with Palestinian civilians enduring a “horrendous maelstrom of human misery.”

Recently returned from the Gaza Strip, Sigrid Kaag, the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza was speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York via video link from Jordan (► play video).

She said that UN teams and partners are working to address the severe shortages of waste management and sanitation facilities, amid the risk of outbreaks of communicable diseases.

While in Gaza, she also visited a mobile maternity ward, run by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the non-profit International Medical Corps.

“There are truly brave women doctors, nurses, working to ensure safe deliveries as well as a high number of C-sections, but under horrendous circumstances,” she said.

“And normally babies, of course, bring only joy and a momentary sense of relief to the families. But we also know that many of the mothers are deeply worried about the future and the world they are bringing their children into,” she added.

Ms. Kaag also noted that doctors have reported a rise in the rate of miscarriages in the first and second trimesters, though the reasons are not clear, and that this will be studied further by the experts.

Urgent needs

The senior UN humanitarian also stated that the hospitals she visited also had children suffering severe, often chronic, medical conditions that required medical evacuation (medevac) for treatment.

“A number of these children have been displaced four or five times within Gaza, each time in pursuit of safety and medical shelter. I think it is quite difficult for us to even imagine,” she said.

Ms. Kaag also outlined key necessities for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the ground, especially safety and security for humanitarians as well as for the civilians they are seeking to assist.

She also urged greater support for Palestinian NGOs, who despite heavy losses, continue their efforts to help those in need.

Humanitarian mechanism

Ms. Kaag also referred to the mechanism for accelerating humanitarian consignments to Gaza, which she is tasked with under Security Council resolution 2720. 

“It is working, it is capturing aid supplies from Jordan, Cyprus, West Bank into Gaza,” she said, noting that negotiations are being finalized with Egypt and that the monitors are ready to be deployed inside Gaza.

“But what we need is an immediate and full ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and, of course, continued access to start to meet the needs,” she stressed.