Washington, January 21, 2024, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the unprecedented scale of destruction in Gaza and the alarming number of civilian casualties during his tenure, deeming it "totally unprecedented." Addressing the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Kampala, Uganda, Guterres drew attention to the dire conditions faced by humanitarian workers in the field. These workers grapple with constant bombardments and daily hazards amidst significant challenges, including damaged infrastructure, communication blackouts, and restricted access.
During his address, Guterres lamented the loss of 152 UN staff members in Gaza, emphasizing the severe consequences for the population. He highlighted the grim reality of people succumbing to hunger, lack of clean water, electricity shortages, and depleted medical supplies in hospitals.
Calling for concerted efforts to prevent the escalation of the conflict across the region, Guterres issued a warning against rejecting the two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians. He deemed the denial of the Palestinian people's right to establish a state as "unacceptable," emphasizing the need to address these fundamental issues to foster lasting peace in the region.
