UN General Assembly's Tenth Emergency Special Session (Friday, 10 May 2024)
UN General Assembly presses Security Council to give 'favourable consideration' to full Palestinian membership
More information on the session >>
Awake at Night: The Human Cost of War
In Season 9, Episode 1 of Awake at Night, host Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, engages in a gripping conversation with Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Tasked with overseeing the humanitarian efforts in Gaza, Mr. Lazzarini confronts the harrowing aftermath of terror attacks and military conflicts, grappling with unprecedented levels of devastation. As 2.2 million lives hang in the balance amidst looming famine and a collapsing healthcare infrastructure, Mr. Lazzarini's impassioned reflections shed light on the profound human costs of conflict. Tune in>>
The Security Council just approved a long-awaited resolution on Gaza, demanding an immediate ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable...
Flash Appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory
The United Nations and its partners issued a plan that outlines the minimum necessary to scale up humanitarian operations in support of 2.2 million people in the Gaza Strip and 500,000 of the most vulnerable in the West Bank. An estimated $1.2 billion is required to deliver existing humanitarian services amid ongoing hostilities.
The magnitude of this response and operational constraints are beyond what has ever been seen before in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and other contexts.
Background
The United Nations has been instrumental in addressing the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, actively pursuing a peaceful resolution to the Question of Palestine.
On 7 October 2023, Palestinian armed groups in Gaza launched thousands of rockets toward Israel and breached through the perimeter fence of Gaza at multiple locations, entering into Israeli towns and killing and capturing Israeli forces and civilians. The Israeli military declared “a state of war alert,” and moved its troops into Gaza, subsequently targeting numerous locations including residential and healthcare facilities.
The Israeli military operation has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians in the first six months of the war, two-thirds of whom were women and children, and displaced over 2 million individuals. Extensive damage to Gaza's infrastructure has precipitated a healthcare crisis, with an increase in communicable diseases, especially among children, and brought the entire educational system in Gaza to a standstill.
Moreover, Gaza's entire population is facing a severe food crisis, escalating the risk of famine and disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups. Additionally, more than 200 humanitarian workers have been killed in first six months of this conflict – including more than 175 UN employees.
Learn more at Question of Palestine website.