Hibapress
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday in New York of the serious consequences of an escalation of tensions in the Middle East, while reiterating his call for an immediate ceasefire in the region.
In a statement to the press, the UN chief also renewed his call for the “immediate and unconditional” release of the hostages and access to urgent life-saving aid “to all those who desperately need it”.
He further called for “irreversible” action in favor of a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel, stressing that “all people in the region deserve to live in peace”.
The senior UN official also underlined the imperative to strengthen humanitarian operations in the region, noting that the appeal for funds of 426 million dollars launched for Lebanon is only 12% funded.
He urged donors to intensify their efforts in this direction, at a time when UN humanitarian agencies have just warned of possible epidemics and food shortages in this country.
