In a press conference following the Israeli strike on Gaza's Nasser Hospital, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric extended condolences to the families of the journalists and medics killed. He stated the killings highlight the extreme risks faced by those performing vital work and reiterated that civilians must be protected under international law. The Secretary-General called for a prompt, impartial investigation and an immediate ceasefire. Dujarric confirmed famine conditions in Gaza, reporting 300 deaths from malnutrition and over 800,000 new displacements since March. He detailed that the majority of coordinated humanitarian missions face delays or denials by Israeli authorities, severely impeding aid delivery. The UN also called for the protection of educational facilities and welcomed the release of a detained WHO colleague while condemning the targeting of aid workers.
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00:00Right, let's go straight to the UN now, where the spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stephen Zajic, is speaking. Let's take a listen.
00:08We want to extend our condolences to families and colleagues of those journalists killed, especially those representative of the Associated Press, Reuters and Al Jazeer, who are in this room or online.
00:19These latest horrific killings highlight the extreme risks that medical personnel and journalists face as they carry out their vital work amidst this brutal conflict.
00:31The Secretary-General recalls that civilians, including medical personnel and journalists, must be respected and protected at all times.
00:40He calls for a prompt, impartial investigation into these killings.
00:43He reiterates that medical personnel and journalists must be able to perform their essential duties without interference, without intimidation and without harm and in full accordance with international humanitarian law.
00:59The Secretary-General reiterates his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian access across Gaza, and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages being held in Gaza.
01:14We just also, the horrific attack this morning on Nasser Hospital, turning to the overall situation in the Gaza Strip.
01:27The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that ongoing airstrikes and hostilities, including attacks on health care, are causing further casualties in damaging or destroying critical civilian infrastructure.
01:40With famine conditions now confirmed in Gaza, hunger and malnutrition among children is deepening.
01:48Our partners working on nutrition remind us that in any food crisis, children with underlying health conditions are affected first, and without proper nutrition, water, and care, their conditions worsen more quickly.
02:03Less aid means more malnutrition.
02:05In addition, we and our partners continue to call for the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza.
02:14Today, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said 11 people have died from malnutrition and starvation in the past 24 hours.
02:21This brings the total number of people who have died due to malnutrition and hunger to 300.
02:26That, again, is according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
02:31Across the Strip, people continue to be displaced while seeking safety and shelter.
02:36Our partners tracking population movements in Gaza report that since August 20th, some 5,000 people are estimated to have been displaced from northern Gaza to Daryl Bala and Khan Yunus.
02:47Some 8,000 others have been displaced to the west of Gaza City.
02:51This brings the total number of new displacements since the end of the ceasefire in mid-March to more than 800,000.
02:59Meanwhile, OCHA warns that eight convoys in Gaza continue to face delays.
03:04They continue to face movement restrictions and many other obstacles.
03:08Yesterday, out of the 15 humanitarian missions that required coordination, the Israeli authorities facilitated seven,
03:16which included the collection of fuel from the Karim Shalom crossing and its distribution to areas where it is needed most.
03:23Four missions had to be either canceled by the organizers or were denied outright by Israeli authorities.
03:29The remaining ones were initially approved but then impeded on the ground and only partially accomplished.
03:36Our partners said that several education facilities across the Gaza Strip, all used as shelters for displaced people, were attacked last week.
03:45With local authorities announcing that final exams for over 35,000 high school students are due to be held in two weeks,
03:52we and our partners reiterate our call for the protection of education facilities in accordance with international humanitarian law.
03:59Meanwhile, Israeli forces released a World Health Organization colleague who had been detained now for more than a month.
04:07Our colleagues at WHO in Geneva obviously welcomed the release and called once again for the protection of health staff and all humanitarian workers.
04:15OCHA continues to call for the protection of civilians, including humanitarians, health workers, and journalists.
04:29None should ever be a target.
04:33Moving to the situation in southern Lebanon.
04:36Our peacekeepers there reportedly continued is, excuse me, our peacekeepers there report continued Israeli defense forces military activities, including air violations.
04:47Right, we were just listening there live to Stephen, Stephen Ducharich.
04:52He's the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, highlighting the horrific situation that people in Gaza are facing.
04:59Of course, the first thing he addressed was the death of five journalists, including one of our very own cameramen, highlighting, he says, the extreme risks that journalists and medics face.
05:10He said that they must be protected and respected at all times to be able to perform their jobs with full accordance of humanitarian law.
05:19Also calling there, the UN Secretary General calling for an immediate ceasefire access across the Gaza Strip and release of those that are held captive still.
05:32He did mention a few new figures, more than 800,000 people, he said, displaced across the Gaza Strip since March's ceasefire, which is just an incredible number.
05:44He said that just yesterday, 15 humanitarian missions trying to enter the Gaza Strip, only seven had been facilitated.
05:53Most of them had been canceled.
05:55Some of them that had initially been approved, then denied access, of course, all of this by Israel as it continues to carry out its full blockade on the Gaza Strip, preventing much needed aid to enter.
06:09And again, he also called for the protection of school facilities.
06:14We will go back if the press is allowed to ask questions, but that's the sum up there of what was said by the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General.
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