Press release
Statement from Taoiseach Simon Harris on the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
“Ireland is deeply disturbed by the widespread disruption to aid operations in Gaza due to ongoing Israeli military evacuation orders.
Every minute of every hour counts in saving lives in Gaza and the fact the UN had to suspend all operations around its central hub of Deir al-Balah yesterday is inexcusable and indefensible.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is no longer only about those killed by missiles. Polio has been detected and the United Nations last night confirmed that 50,000 children born shortly before the war, or since, have not been immunised because of the collapse of the health system.
We now have a widespread catastrophic risk of polio and other horrific diseases because of ongoing cancellation of humanitarian aid. The UN has rushed more than 600,000 polio vaccines to Gaza and the fact that this life-saving chain would be disrupted with evacuation orders should not be contemplated.
Hunger continues to haunt the 1.1 million people who have survived shelling and fled time and time again. The World Food Program has confirmed it is reducing the content of its food parcels because only half of its 24,000 metric tons of food aid has made it into Gaza.
Refusals of food and slow authorisation of passage, meaning fresh food perishes, is unconscionable and shameful.
Ireland fully supports the international efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire, the release of hostages and the free flowing of aid. These efforts are intense but until they reach a conclusion, this troubling pattern of a disruption of aid has to be called out and has to stop.
All sides need to abide by the International Court of Justice order for unhindered access for humanitarian aid.
I will discuss these matters, and others, in a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris this afternoon.”
ENDS