The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has reiterated calls by the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to rescind the evacuation order from northern Gaza, which is making a dire humanitarian situation even worse.

The fund’s executive director, Natalia Kanem, made the call in a statement by UNFPA Nigeria’s media associate, Kori Habib, in Abuja on Wednesday.

She said UNFPA lamented the loss of lives in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory and is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of all civilians caught up in the crisis, especially women and girls.

Ms Kanem stated that the evacuation order from northern Gaza is worsening a dire humanitarian situation.

She stated, “UNFPA supports pregnant women and newborns by providing essential medicines and deploying midwives. This can only continue if lifesaving aid can reach them.

“We call for immediate, unimpeded humanitarian access so that food, medicines, water, and fuel can reach everyone in need.”

Ms Kanem also called on all parties to abide by international humanitarian law and for the immediate release of all hostages, adding that attacks on civilians and infrastructure must cease and healthcare facilities must never be a target.

Israel started launching attacks on Gaza after a major assault on Israel by the Palestinian organisation Hamas on October 7.

Several hospitals in Gaza City became refugee centres for hundreds of people, hoping they would be spared the bombardment after Israel ordered all residents of the city and surrounding areas to evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip.

After that, an Israeli air force bombed the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, where at least 500 people were reportedly killed—the deadliest Israeli airstrike in five wars fought since 2008.

(NAN)