Riyadh: United Nations (UN) officials are urging world leaders to act with urgency to save the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and to ensure upholding basic principles of international humanitarian law as the tightened blockade enters its second month.

According to Saudi Press Agency, in a joint statement, the heads of the World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNRWA, the World Food Programme (WFP), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the United Nations Office for Project Services called for the renewal of the ceasefire, the protection of civilians, the facilitation of aid access, and the release of hostages.

The statement condemned the shelling of 2.1 million besieged individuals, as supplies of food, medicine, fuel, shelter, and essential equipment continue to pile up at the crossings. Furthermore, it highlighted the death and injury of over 1,000 children in just the first week following the ceasefire breakdown, marking the highest one-week death toll among children in Gaza in the past year.

The statement emphasized that the 25 bakeries supported by the WFP had to close due to flour and cooking gas shortages, while the health situation is under immense strain as medical supplies rapidly run out.