Guyana calls for urgent action on Gaza crisis at UN Security Council

In an address on Tuesday at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Guyana’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd, spoke on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” session, calling attention to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urging for swift action to alleviate suffering and restore stability.
Todd decried the “new and unacceptable bars” set by the ongoing war in Gaza, highlighting a devastatingly rapid deterioration in the nutritional health of Gaza’s population. He emphasised that this conflict has tragically seen the highest number of humanitarian workers killed in a single conflict globally and noted that more women and children have been casualties in Gaza than in any other recent conflict within a single year.
Expressing Guyana’s concern over the siege and persistent bombing campaign impacting northern Gaza for over three weeks, Todd urged the international community to adhere to its obligations under international law, particularly regarding the protection of Gaza’s inhabitants. “The current siege is an affront to humanity and must be addressed urgently,” he stated.
Emphasising the UNSC’s role, Todd pointed out that today’s world is better equipped than ever, with real-time information, to make informed decisions. He called for unity among the Security Council members to mitigate and stabilise the broader Middle East situation. He warned that inaction would mean abdicating the Council’s foundational role in maintaining global peace and security.
The Minister also expressed grave concern over recent legislative developments in the Israeli Parliament concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). He stressed that dismantling UNRWA could lead to catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians who rely on its services in the absence of an independent Palestinian state. He urged careful deliberation of these actions, citing their potential to further destabilise the region.
Minister Todd reiterated the pressing need for a ceasefire, urging the Security Council to “rise to the occasion” and take decisive steps to address Gaza’s unparalleled humanitarian crisis. His call reflected Guyana’s commitment to peace and compassion amid a conflict that continues to exact a harrowing toll on civilians.
Earlier this year, President Dr Irfaan Ali had renewed calls for a ceasefire in Gaza as the ongoing Palestine/Israel conflict continued to escalate.
“…we make a call once more to the world that the atrocities in Gaza must come to an end now. The killing must stop now,” the president had said at the flag raising ceremony to commemorate Guyana’s 54th Republic Day Anniversary.