India joins 50 UN member states endorsing call to action on humanitarian health access into Gaza

By Yoshita Singh

     United Nations, Nov 13 (PTI) India joined 50 other UN member states endorsing a call to action on health and humanitarian access into Gaza as the winter months set in with New Delhi emphasising the need for renewed efforts towards lasting peace and stability in the region.

     India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Yojna Patel, on Thursday joined UN ambassadors here at a media stakeout led by Jordan, Qatar and the UK alongside 50 member states, endorsing the Call to Action on Humanitarian Access and Health in Gaza.

     “As winter sets in, India reiterates the importance of safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian assistance to suffering civilians, especially women and children, in Gaza,” the Permanent Mission of India to the UN said in a post on X on Friday.

     "We emphasise the importance of protecting civilians, ensuring respect for international humanitarian law, and the need for renewed efforts towards lasting peace and stability in the region,” the mission added.

     UK Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh had delivered a joint statement on behalf of the countries, including Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Greece among others.

     In the joint statement, the countries said that following the elections in Israel, they reiterate their call to the incoming government of Israel to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza.

     It further called on the incoming Israel government to facilitate the operation of the Egyptian and Jordanian humanitarian corridors and to approve additional critical items, in particular related to shelter, fuel, water, sanitation, health supplies to prevent further deterioration of public health.

     The joint statement also reiterated its call to the incoming government of Israel to restore the medical referral pathway to hospitals in East Jerusalem and the West Bank for those with illnesses and injuries that cannot be adequately treated in Gaza.

     It emphasised the protection of healthcare workers, healthcare facilities and medical transport in accordance with international humanitarian law and open and expedite transparent criminal investigations into attacks against healthcare and humanitarian workers.

     The countries endorsing the call to action committed to supporting humanitarian efforts in Gaza by providing support for urgent winterisation preparation efforts, including shelter, water, sanitation and health supplies to reduce suffering and mitigate public health risks.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)