The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide’s statement on the war in the Middle East

On 9 February 2024, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide released a statement on the horrifying continuous situation in the Middle East. 

As the war in Gaza continues to take lives of innocent civilians, she reiterates the need for a humanitarian ceasefire and compliance with the international legal requirements. Civilians must be protected and the involved parties, together with all the relevant actors, must put effort in finding a way to end the war. 

The numbers of affected Palestinians are concerning: almost 30,000 have been killed, and more than 67,300 were injured. The amount of displaced people from Gaza rises to over 1.7 million, due to the complete destruction of houses, schools, hospitals and other vital infrastructures in Gaza. In this regard, Ms. Nderitu states “civilians should never pay the price of a conflict for which they bear no responsibility. Their most basic rights must be protected and preserved, and their humanitarian needs must be met”.

The UN Special Adviser notes that the war in Gaza has consequences in the nearby territories, namely the West Bank and the Middle East region. Beyond that, violence has a spillover effect worldwide. Political leaders must work towards a world where communities can co-exist peacefully and they must refrain from the use of hate, dehumanizing speech.

To know more about the statement, visit: https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/02/1146402?utm_source=UN+News+-+Newsletter&utm_campaign=148ca1ef85-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_02_11_02_15&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fdbf1af606-148ca1ef85-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D