The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged Israeli authorities to “avert a humanitarian catastrophe”, a spokesperson said after Israel’s military warned 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes,
CNN reports.
“Since last night the secretary general and his team have been working the phones. He’s been in constant contact with Israeli authorities urging them to avert a humanitarian catastrophe,” said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the secretary general, in a briefing at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday.
“He’s also had phone contacts with permanent representatives here in New York and other officials in the region,” Dujarric added.
The UN on Thursday said it was informed by its liaison officers in the Israeli military that “the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within the next 24 hours.”
Dujarric reiterated an earlier statement from the UN that the evacuation is “impossible” and has urged the Israeli military to withdraw.
“We consider it is impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences and we strongly appeal for any such order to be rescinded, avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation," Dujarric said.
