UN Deputy Chief Condemns Loss of Moral Compass in Gaza Crisis

"For me, of great concern is that we have lost our moral compass on Gaza, as a humanity, as the international community," Mohammed told a news conference.

She highlighted the plight of thousands of children who continue to suffer, facing death and disability amid ongoing Israeli war. Mohammed urged immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory.

Her remarks came after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, citing the alarming increase in child casualties in the region.

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), described the Israeli genocidal war against the Gaza Strip as a "war on children," emphasizing the devastating impact on their present and future.

Lazzarini revealed startling statistics indicating a higher number of child fatalities in Gaza compared to conflicts worldwide over the past four years.

“This war is a war on children. It is a war on their childhood and their future,” said UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, who described as “staggering” the latest Gaza health authority data indicating that at least 12,300 youngsters have died in the enclave in the last four months, compared with 12,193 globally between 2019 and 2022.

Furthermore, a report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned of an impending famine in northern Gaza, where 70% of the population faces severe food shortages.

The entire population of 2.2 million people in Gaza does not have enough food to eat, with half of the population on the brink of starvation and famine projected to arrive in the north “anytime between mid-March and May 2024,” said the IPC.

UN Secretary-General Guterres underscored the severity of the situation, stating that it represents the highest number of people facing catastrophic hunger ever recorded.