In the past 12 months, more than 45,000 people have been killed, 101,000 injured and two million displaced across Israel, Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian Territories.* A further 10,000 are reported missing under the rubble of Gaza.
Today, our thoughts are with all those whose lives have been forever changed by the loss of loved ones, the families forced to leave their homes, and communities driven apart in their pursuit of safety. MAG stands with all those affected by conflict – including our colleagues, friends and partners. We also mourn the loss of more than 1,000 humanitarian and medical workers who put themselves on the front line to help others and, in so doing, should have been protected.
The Universal Declaration on Human Rights reminds us that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. International humanitarian law binds warring parties to protect those not directly involved in conflict. When people are denied basic necessities like food, water and shelter, and when civilians are killed and injured daily, these basic rules are not being upheld.
The deaths of more than 1,200 people in the October 7th attack – the majority of whom were civilians – and the continued holding of more than 100 Israeli hostages in Gaza is an unspeakable tragedy. The retaliation, leading to an unprecedented number of women and children being killed in Gaza, has caused only further tragedy and loss, massively exacerbated by the repeated use of explosive weapons in such a densely populated area, usage which is, by its very nature, indiscriminate.
The past 12 months have seen an estimated 34,820** missile, drone and artillery strikes across the Middle East, using a wide range of ordnance – some of which will have failed to explode. We have previously reported that MAG is doing everything feasible to support communities in Gaza through our partnerships with local NGOs and the United Nations Mine Action Service, and in Lebanon through risk education, and that our long-established programme there is preparing for a longer term response to new contamination. Until our teams can safely access the affected areas, survey and clearance cannot begin, and the true scale of explosive ordnance contamination is unknown. For MAG to carry out its vital work supporting communities to recover from conflict and return to their homes, security is an essential prerequisite.
The situation in the region continues to escalate, but it is time for this devastation to end. The international community must strive for inclusive security and peace. States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty must fulfil their obligations to ensure arms transfers do not undermine international humanitarian law. Security Council Resolution 2735 must be fully implemented under a governance structure that facilitates humanitarian access, including for clearance of explosive ordnance. A ceasefire must also be reached in Lebanon with the utmost urgency.
Human rights must be defended and civilian lives must be protected, now and always.
*Data of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
**Data of ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data)
