Latest news with #non-UN
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
WHO says Gaza's Nasser hospital 'one massive trauma ward'
Geneva: Nasser hospital in Gaza is operating as "one massive trauma ward" due to an influx of patients wounded at non-United Nations food distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation , the World Health Organization said on Friday. The U.S.- and Israeli-backed GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of deliveries that the United Nations says is neither impartial nor neutral. It has repeatedly denied that incidents involving people killed or wounded at its sites have occurred. The GHF told Reuters on Friday that "the most deadly attacks on aid sites have been linked to U.N. convoys," and said the U.N. and humanitarian groups should work "collaboratively" with the GHF to "maximise the amount of aid being securely delivered into Gaza". The U.N. in Geneva was immediately available for comment. Referring to medical staff at the Nasser hospital, Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the West Bank and Gaza, told reporters in Geneva: "They've seen already for weeks, daily injuries ... (the) majority coming from the so-called safe non-UN food distribution sites. The hospital is now operating as one massive trauma ward." Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19. The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that it had recorded at least 613 killings both at aid points run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and near humanitarian convoys. "We have recorded 613 killings, both at GHF points and near humanitarian convoys - this is a figure as of June 27. Since then ... there have been further incidents," Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva. The OHCHR said 509 of the 613 were killed near GHF distribution points. The GHF dismissed these numbers as coming "directly from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry" and were being used to "falsely smear" its effort. The GHF has previously said it has delivered more than 60 million meals to hungry Palestinians in five weeks "safely and without interference", while other humanitarian groups had "nearly all of their aid looted." The U.N. office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that there have been some instances of violent looting and attacks on aid truck drivers, which it described as unacceptable. BULLET WOUNDS Hundreds of patients, mainly young boys, were being treated for traumatic injuries, including bullet wounds to the head, chest and knees, according to the WHO. Peeperkorn said health workers at Nasser hospital and testimonies from family members and friends of those wounded confirmed that the victims had been trying to access aid at sites run by the GHF. Peeperkorn recounted the cases of a 13-year-old boy shot in the head, as well as a 21-year-old with a bullet lodged in his neck which rendered him paraplegic. "There is no chance for any reversal or any proper treatment. Young lives are being destroyed forever," Peeperkorn said, urging for the fighting to stop and for more food aid to be allowed into Gaza. The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than 2 million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins.
Roya News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
UN: Over 500 killed near Gaza aid sites since late May
More than 500 Palestinians have been killed near food aid sites linked to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) since late May, according to new figures released by the UN on Friday, intensifying concerns over the safety of civilians in areas designated for relief. The GHF, a US and 'Israel'-backed private organization, began distributing food in Gaza on May 26 after 'Israel' imposed a prolonged blockade that halted humanitarian supplies for over two months. The resulting shortages led to widespread famine warnings and pushed aid operations to the brink of collapse. Since the GHF began its operations, chaos has erupted around its distribution points, with near-daily reports of 'Israeli' forces opening fire on crowds waiting for rations in Gaza, where 'Israel' continues its military campaign against Hamas. UN human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said her team had documented at least 613 deaths near GHF distribution points and aid convoys as of June 27. 'Of the 613 figure that I mentioned, 509 people killed were killed near the GHF distribution,' she told reporters in Geneva. The remaining deaths occurred 'near UN and non-UN convoys.' She noted that the death toll is likely higher, as the UN continues to verify additional reports amid significant restrictions on access to Gaza. "It is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points," Shamdasani said. "How many killings? Who is responsible for that? We need an investigation. We need access. We need an independent inquiry, and we need accountability for these killings." International aid groups and the United Nations have refused to cooperate with GHF, citing concerns that the foundation's operations are aligned with 'Israeli' military interests and violate core humanitarian principles. Despite these criticisms, GHF reported on Thursday that it had distributed over one million food boxes across Gaza. GHF is registered in Delaware and chaired by Johnnie Moore, an evangelical leader and vocal supporter of US President Donald Trump. At a press briefing in Brussels, Moore defended the foundation's operations, claiming, "We have not had a single violent incident in our distribution sites. We haven't had a violent incident in close proximity to our distribution sites." However, humanitarian workers on the ground paint a much darker picture. Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization's (WHO) representative in the Palestinian territories, visited the Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza this week. He described dire conditions: 'There were patients everywhere: on the floor, in the corridors.' He added that the victims were often young males targeted while trying to access food. "It's mainly boys, young adolescents, young men, and we all know that they go to these so-called safe, non-UN food distribution sites," he said. 'There are so many of these cases shot in the head, shot in the neck, shot in the chest.'
Al-Ahram Weekly
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Over 500 killed around GHF aid distributions in Gaza: UN - War on Gaza
More than 500 Palestinians have been killed in the vicinity of the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's (GHF) distribution sites since late May, the United Nations said on Friday. The GHF, presented as a private initiative, began operating on 26 May after Israel enforced a total blockade on all supplies into Gaza for more than two months, triggering warnings of famine. Since then, Israeli troops have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinians gathering near GHF aid sites. The UN said these incidents, along with Israeli attacks on humanitarian convoys, have resulted in hundreds of deaths. 'We have recorded 613 killings near GHF distribution points and near humanitarian convoys since the GHF began operations, until noon on 27 June,' UN human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told reporters. 'Of the 613, 509 were killed near GHF distribution points,' she said. The rest were killed near UN and non-UN aid convoys. Shamdasani said the numbers are likely higher, as the UN continues to receive further reports of Israeli attacks it is working to corroborate. Call for investigation She added that Israel's refusal to grant access to Gaza was obstructing independent verification. 'It is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points,' Shamdasani said. 'How many killings? Who is responsible? We need an investigation. We need access. We need an independent inquiry, and we need accountability for these killings.' The UN and major humanitarian groups have refused to work with the GHF, warning that it was created to serve Israeli military interests and violates core humanitarian principles. Headquartered in Delaware, the GHF is chaired by Johnnie Moore, a Christian evangelical leader and ally of US President Donald Trump. On Thursday, the foundation claimed to have distributed over a million food boxes in Gaza. 'We have not had a single violent incident in our distribution sites. We haven't had a violent incident in close proximity to our distribution sites,' Moore told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday. That claim is contradicted by numerous eyewitness accounts and medical reports from Gaza. Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization's representative in the occupied Palestinian territories, condemned the killings: 'The senseless killing in Gaza must stop.' After visiting Nasser Medical Complex this week, he described hospital corridors packed with wounded civilians. 'There are patients everywhere — on the floor, in the corridors,' he said. 'It's mainly boys, young adolescents, young men, and we all know that they go to these so-called safe, non-UN food distribution sites,' he added. 'There are so many of these cases shot in the head, shot in the neck, shot in the chest. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily Maverick
04-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
WHO says Gaza's Nasser hospital ‘one massive trauma ward'
The U.S.-and Israeli-backed GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of deliveries that the United Nations says is neither impartial nor neutral. It has repeatedly denied that incidents involving people killed or wounded at its sites have occurred. Referring to medical staff at the Nasser hospital, Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the West Bank and Gaza, told reporters in Geneva: 'They've seen already for weeks, daily injuries … (the) majority coming from the so-called safe non-UN food distribution sites. The hospital is now operating as one massive trauma ward.' Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19. The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that it had recorded at least 613 killings both at aid points run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and near humanitarian convoys. 'We have recorded 613 killings, both at GHF points and near humanitarian convoys – this is a figure as of June 27. Since then … there have been further incidents,' Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva. The OHCHR said 509 of the 613 were killed near GHF distribution points. The GHF has previously said it has delivered more than 52 million meals to hungry Palestinians in five weeks 'safely and without interference', while other humanitarian groups had 'nearly all of their aid looted.' The U.N. office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that there have been some instances of violent looting and attacks on aid truck drivers, which it described as unacceptable. BULLET WOUNDS Hundreds of patients, mainly young boys, were being treated for traumatic injuries, including bullet wounds to the head, chest and knees, according to the WHO. Peeperkorn said health workers at Nasser hospital and testimonies from family members and friends of those wounded confirmed that the victims had been trying to access aid at sites run by the GHF. Peeperkorn recounted the cases of a 13-year-old boy shot in the head, as well as a 21-year-old with a bullet lodged in his neck which rendered him paraplegic. 'There is no chance for any reversal or any proper treatment. Young lives are being destroyed forever,' Peeperkorn said, urging for the fighting to stop and for more food aid to be allowed into Gaza. The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than 2 million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday it would probably be known in 24 hours whether Hamas has agreed to accept what he has called a 'final proposal' for a ceasefire in Gaza.
NDTV
04-07-2025
- Health
- NDTV
WHO Says Gaza's Nasser Hospital 'One Massive Trauma Ward'
Geneva: Nasser hospital in Gaza is operating as "one massive trauma ward" due to an influx of patients wounded at non-United Nations food distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the World Health Organization said on Friday. The US and Israeli-backed GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of deliveries that the United Nations says is neither impartial nor neutral. It has repeatedly denied that incidents involving people killed or wounded at its sites have occurred. Referring to medical staff at the Nasser hospital, Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the West Bank and Gaza, told reporters in Geneva: "They've seen already for weeks, daily injuries ... (the) majority coming from the so-called safe non-UN food distribution sites. The hospital is now operating as one massive trauma ward." Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19. The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that it had recorded at least 613 killings both at aid points run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and near humanitarian convoys. "We have recorded 613 killings, both at GHF points and near humanitarian convoys - this is a figure as of June 27. Since then ... there have been further incidents," Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva. The OHCHR said 509 of the 613 were killed near GHF distribution points. The GHF has previously said it has delivered more than 52 million meals to hungry Palestinians in five weeks "safely and without interference", while other humanitarian groups had "nearly all of their aid looted." The U.N. office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that there have been some instances of violent looting and attacks on aid truck drivers, which it described as unacceptable. Bullet Wounds Hundreds of patients, mainly young boys, were being treated for traumatic injuries, including bullet wounds to the head, chest and knees, according to the WHO. Peeperkorn said health workers at Nasser hospital and testimonies from family members and friends of those wounded confirmed that the victims had been trying to access aid at sites run by the GHF. Peeperkorn recounted the cases of a 13-year-old boy shot in the head, as well as a 21-year-old with a bullet lodged in his neck which rendered him paraplegic. "There is no chance for any reversal or any proper treatment. Young lives are being destroyed forever," Peeperkorn said, urging for the fighting to stop and for more food aid to be allowed into Gaza. The war began when Hamas fighters attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than 2 million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday it would probably be known in 24 hours whether Hamas has agreed to accept what he has called a "final proposal" for a ceasefire in Gaza.
