UN aid chief describes expansion of Gaza war to Lebanon as “potentially apocalyptic”

GENEVA

The outgoing UN humanitarian chief expressed concern on Wednesday about the spread of Israel’s war in Gaza to Lebanon, saying it could have “potentially apocalyptic” consequences.

“I think this is a crisis point. … there is the potential for an apocalypse,” said Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Griffiths made his remarks at a meeting in Geneva with the Association of Accredited Correspondents to the United Nations (ACANU).

Tensions have escalated along Lebanon’s border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israeli forces, while Tel Aviv continued its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, with an onslaught by Palestinian Hamas killing more than 37,700 people since October.

‘The world is failing’ as gaps in humanitarian funding persist

Griffiths stressed that OCHA is only about 18 percent funded halfway through this year, while the total amount the agency is targeting for 2024 is about $48 billion.

He noted that as a result, many crises require humanitarian assistance, including those in Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Gaza, and that these crises are only 10-15 percent funded. Sudan in particular, which is only 20 percent funded, he said, calling it “historically disgraceful.”

“I think that means that this is not a failure of the UN, but a failure of the world,” he said, adding that it is a “failure of values ​​and commitment” while the world is experiencing a “shift in power, responsibility and values.”

“So it is a global problem, not a UN problem,” he added.

The UN Relief and Works Commissioner stressed that the time had “come and gone for radical changes in the way we finance humanitarian systems.”

Latest assessment of food security in Gaza shows “astonishingly cruel situation”

Griffiths also commented on the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, saying it shows an “astonishingly cruel situation” in Gaza.

However, he pointed out a slightly positive development, as the number of people affected by famine was lower than expected.

According to the IPC report, 96 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip suffers from extreme hunger, while nearly half a million people live in catastrophic conditions.

The numbers “still show an astonishingly cruel situation,” he said, adding: “The interesting thing is that there are fewer of them than those who are at risk of famine.”

He noted that the half-million figure was still “unbearable and outrageous”, but added that it was “less” than the expected figure of one million people at risk of famine, given that some assistance had been provided in April.

“This is about the work of development aid. That is why we emphasize once again: We want all border crossings to be opened. We want security for our convoys. We want conflict prevention that we can rely on. And we want the employees of the aid organizations and the health facilities not to become victims of the war,” he demanded.

“And ideally we still want a ceasefire, without which people are not safe,” he said.

Israel has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians since a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7. Israel’s actions have sparked a humanitarian catastrophe and an ongoing trial for alleged genocide before the International Court of Justice.

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