The UN said, on Monday (21), that it will not accept the order issued yesterday by the Israeli Army to evacuate Deir Al Balah, a city located in the center of the Gaza Strip.
The United Nations General Secretariat spokesman, Stéphane Dujaric, said today at his daily press conference that “UN staff remains in Gaza,” and when asked if it meant disobeying the order of evacuation, “yes.”
Dujaric detailed that two of his buildings in Deir Al Balah, which served as accommodation for their staff, “were hit and damaged, although the parts were informed of the location of these buildings.”
“The UN staff was, to say the least, shaken,” said Dujaric, who specified that there are international agents from various countries and Palestinian citizens with family or dependents.
These UN buildings, like all civilians, “should be protected, whatever the evacuation orders,” reiterated Dujaric, who emphasized that “our colleagues on the ground are more than dedicated, and demonstrate it every day remaining in the line of fire and remaining in guest houses that are later attacked,” he said.
In an earlier statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had said he felt “horrified” by the degradation of living conditions in Gaza, “where the last lifeguards who keep people standing are crumbling.”
According to Guterres, in addition to the growing number of malnutrition children and adults, it was especially reprehensible “continuous violence, including shots, murders and damage to people trying to get food for their families.”
