UPDATE - UN relief chief says spreading of Gaza war to Lebanon 'potentially apocalyptic'

UPDATES WITH FURTHER REMARKS

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The outgoing UN relief chief on Wednesday expressed concern about the spillage of the Israeli war in Gaza to Lebanon, saying it could be "potentially apocalyptic."

"I think this is a flashpoint. .... it's potentially apocalyptic," said Martin Griffiths, the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.

Griffiths' remarks came at a meeting in Geneva with the Association of the Accredited Correspondents to the United Nations (ACANU).

Tensions have risen along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 37,700 people since October following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

- 'World failing' as humanitarian funding gaps persist

Griffiths stressed that OCHA is only funded around 18% halfway through this year, while the total amount the agency is looking for is about $48 billion for 2024.

He noted that as a result, so many crises need humanitarian assistance, including those in Syria, Sudan, Yemen, and Gaza, and that they are 10-15% funded. Especially Sudan, which is a little less than 20% funded, he said, and called it "historically shameful."

"I think what this means is it's not about the UN failing; it's about the world failing," he said, adding that it is a "failure of values and commitment" as the world is going through a "shift in power, responsibilities and values."

"So it's a global issue, it's not a UN issue," he added.

The UN relief chief underlined that the time has "come and has long since passed for radical changes to the way we fund humanitarian systems."

- Latest food security assessment in Gaza shows 'astonishingly cruel situation'

Griffiths also commented on the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, saying that it is showing an "astonishingly cruel situation" in Gaza.

However, he pointed out a slight positive development as the number of people who face famine is less than expected.

IPC report indicated that 96% of the population faces extreme levels of hunger in the Gaza Strip, while nearly half a million people are in catastrophic conditions.

The figures "still show an astonishingly cruel situation," he said and continued: "What's interesting about that is it's less than were at risk of famine."

He noted that the half-million figure is still "intolerable and outrageous," but added that it is "less" than expected one million at risk of famine because aid came in at some level of scale during the month of April.

"This is a story about aid working, which is why we restate that we want all those crossing points opened; we want safety and security for our convoys; we want deconfliction which we can rely on; and we want aid workers and health institutions not being victims of the war," he urged.

"And ideally, we still want a cease-fire, without which people will not be safe," he said.

Israel has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas. Israeli actions have triggered a humanitarian disaster and an ongoing trial over alleged genocide at the International Court of Justice.