Over 400 thousand Palestinians were affected by damage to water, sanitation, and hygiene services in the Gaza Strip, after the Israeli air attacks in just two days, the UN denounced.
Ramallah.- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that “more than 17,500 families, totaling more than 123,538 people, were internally displaced.”
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees reported that its facilities took in 74,000 Palestinians in the last 48 hours.
The Israeli aviation attacked homes and apartment buildings in Gaza over the weekend. In some cases, buildings were hit without warning for residents to evacuate, OCHA said in a report on the humanitarian situation in the enclave after the beginning of the fighting between Israel and Hamas.
“Four large multi-story residential towers (Palestina, Al-Hashim, Wattan, and Al-Aklouk) in Gaza City were completely destroyed,” although in these cases their tenants were warned ahead of time, the organization stressed.
According to territory officials, at least 159 housing units have been destroyed so far, while 1,210 have suffered serious damages.
Six health workers were killed and four others injured in Israeli airstrikes, which also damaged seven healthcare centers and nine ambulances, OCHA noted.
Israeli authorities stopped supplying electricity to Gaza on the night of October 7th, reducing electricity hours to just three or four a day. OCHA warned that the Gaza plant “is currently the only source of energy and may run out of fuel in a matter of days.”
CHINA CALLS FOR ISRAEL-PALESTINE CEASEFIRE AND PEACEFUL SOLUTION
Beijing.- China called on Monday for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza Strip clash and expressed its support for recognizing Palestine as a State to resolve the conflict.
“We have always believed that dialogue and negotiations are essential to solve the problem. We call on all parties for a ceasefire and an end to fighting as soon as possible to prevent further deterioration of the situation,” Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
Mao stressed that China is a friend of both parties, so “we sincerely hope that Palestine and Israel can coexist peacefully and share security and development.
In her view, the fundamental way to achieve this is to implement the two-state solution, which means recognizing the establishment of a Palestinian State.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the casualties in the conflict and condemned the actions against civilians.
“China opposes actions that widen conflicts and undermine regional stability,” Mao stated.
The search for a peaceful solution on the one hand, and the call to escalate the conflict further on the other one, seem to guide the discourses of the representatives of both parties at the United Nations. (PL)
