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UN PhotoOHCHR / GAZA FAMINE RISK
STORY: OHCHR / GAZA FAMINE RISK
TRT: 01:09
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 19 MARCH 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, exteriors, Palais Wilson
19 MARCH 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The projected imminent famine in Gaza can and must be prevented. Israel’s now 16-year-old blockade of Gaza has already had a severe impact on human rights for the civilian population, leaving the local economy devastated and creating a dependence on aid. The extent of Israel’s continued restrictions on the entry of aid into Gaza, together with the manner in which it continues to conduct hostilities, may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war, which is a war crime. The clock is ticking. Everyone, especially those with influence, must insist that Israel acts to facilitate the unimpeded entry and distribution of needed humanitarian assistance and commercial goods to end starvation and avert all risk of famine.”
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
3. Wide shot, exteriors, Palais Wilson
19 MARCH 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“And there needs to be an immediate ceasefire, as well as the unconditional release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.”
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
5. Wide shot, exteriors, Palais Wilson
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said, “The projected imminent famine in Gaza can and must be prevented.”
In a video message today (19 Mar) Türk said, “Israel’s now 16-year-old blockade of Gaza has already had a severe impact on human rights for the civilian population, leaving the local economy devastated and creating a dependence on aid. The extent of Israel’s continued restrictions on the entry of aid into Gaza, together with the manner in which it continues to conduct hostilities, may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war, which is a war crime.”
He continued, “The clock is ticking. Everyone, especially those with influence, must insist that Israel acts to facilitate the unimpeded entry and distribution of needed humanitarian assistance and commercial goods to end starvation and avert all risk of famine.”
He concluded, “there needs to be an immediate ceasefire, as well as the unconditional release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.”
