UN Warns Gaza City Has Been ‘Handed a Death Sentence’ Amid Escalating Crisis

NEW YORK, Sept 13 (VoM): A United Nations official has issued a stark warning over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying that civilians have effectively been given a “death sentence” as Israeli military operations intensify.

Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Gaza, told reporters on Friday that the situation has reached a critical stage.

“In an instant, Gaza City was handed a death sentence  leave or be killed,” she said, highlighting orders for civilians to flee to already overcrowded areas where food, clean water, and medical care are almost impossible to find.

Cherevko described how hospitals, already short on critical supplies, are forced to treat the wounded in hallways and on balconies due to a lack of space. Israeli forces have encircled Gaza by land, sea, and air, leaving residents with no viable escape routes.

Recounting the human cost of the conflict, she shared stories of children killed in line while waiting for bread and families living in constant fear.

“The unmistakable smell of death is everywhere  a grim reminder that the ruins hide the remains of mothers, fathers, children. Humans who once laughed, cried, dreamed  their lives cut short by war’s killing machines,” Cherevko said.

Humanitarian operations continue to face serious challenges, with convoys often delayed or denied access by Israeli authorities, preventing the delivery of vital food, water, and medical supplies.

“Dignity and hope have been stripped away with every killing of a loved one, every strike on a civilian lifeline, every denial of access,” she added.

Despite the devastation, Cherevko praised the resilience of Palestinian doctors, nurses, paramedics, and aid workers who continue to serve under extreme danger.

She reiterated urgent calls for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, protection of civilians, and unfettered humanitarian access.

“The people of Gaza are not asking for charity. They are asking for their right to live in safety, dignity, and peace,” Cherevko said. “History will judge us not by the speeches we make, but by our actions. When Gaza burned, children starved, hospitals collapsed , did you act?”