United Nations published this video item, entitled “‘Nowhere in Gaza is safe,’ UNFPA Representative Warns | Press Conference | United Nations” – below is their description.
Virtual press conference by Mr. Dominic Allen, UN Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Representative for the State of Palestine, on his recent visit to Gaza.
Dominic Allen, UN Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Representative for the State of Palestine, said, “It is clear from my visit that the situation in Gaza is beyond any of our worst nightmares and it’s getting worse. What I saw, what I felt was fear, despair, desperation is everywhere.”
The UNFPA Representative briefed reporters today (12 Jan) from East Jerusalem about his visit to Gaza last weekend.
He said, “As you all have heard that food, water, health care, shelter, all the basics, just sustaining life are needed. And I don’t even want to speak about life with dignity because I didn’t see any of that in Gaza right now. What I saw was really truly heartbreaking.”
The UNFPA Representative also said, “in our particular mandate with the UN, I’m personally I was terrified for the one million women and girls in Gaza. 690,000 women and girls are at menstruation age, 5,500 pregnant women due to give birth in these coming months. That is 180 births every single day in Gaza right now.”
“Many of them suffering from thirst, malnutrition, lack of health. If the bombs don’t kill them, if disease, hunger and dehydration don’t catch up with them, simply giving life will and we can’t let this happen,” Allen added.
He also said, “Those who were breastfeeding who are no longer able to, because their meal sources have dried up for many reasons, including hydration, nutrition, and other issues. And of course, that then leads on to nutrition challenges for the newborns as well.”
The UNFPA Representative also announced that today UNFPA got 66 pallets of menstrual hygiene management kits into Gaza,” adding that “We’re working side by side with many parts, including UNRWA to really scale up and get more into Gaza because much more is needed as I keep seeing at scale. Now.
Allen told reporters, “We’ve delivered around eight interagency reproductive health kits. So this comprises around 56 boxes, because each gives about seven boxes, and this will support 360 births with clinical delivery assistance. These are midwifery supplies, drugs, disposable equipment, and it really helps manage postpartum after birth, maternal and neonatal complications. So those are the supplies that UNFPA has been able to get to the north.”
On psychosocial support, the UNFPA Representative said, “Our focus at the moment is really on PFA – psychosocial first aid, in order to support and this is where, as I mentioned, we’ve got youth groups on the ground which are doing some of these to alleviate some of those given moments of alleviation and it’s the ever present stresses and strains and major challenges.”
On delivering aid, Allen said, “We need the enabling environment in order to operate and deliver humanitarian assistance at scale. And this is a highly insecure environment.”
He said, “nowhere in Gaza is safe. We have sought deconfliction for UN facilities, hospitals, protection should be for all of those facilities and all civilians but these isn’t happening. So it is a major concern and a major worry if we were operating by sending out the deconfliction notices which are acknowledged but the fear is still there.”
United Nations YouTube Channel
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