International Desk 
Rtnn: In a fervent appeal to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has sought the UN organ’s intervention in ensuring an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza and halt Israel’s deadly attacks.

MSF International President Christos Christou’s open letter on Monday also urged the UNSC to do everything at its disposal to help allow crucial humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.    

Founded in 1971 in Paris by a group of journalists and doctors, MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, is today a worldwide movement of nearly 68,000 people. MSF provides medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or excluded from healthcare. MSF lost four of its staffers–killed in Gaza–while many others have lost family members in the past few weeks.  

The UNSC is one of the six main organs of the United Nations, established by the UN Charter. The UN Charter gives primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security to the UNSC, which has the mandate to meet whenever peace is threatened.

In the letter, MSF International President Christou wrote: “I am writing to you on behalf of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to implore you to do everything within your power to ensure an immediate and sustained ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

 “You [UNSC] must demand that the Israeli government stop the deadly attacks on Palestinian civilians and allow crucial humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.”

MSF’s open letter to the UNSC comes at a time when Israel has renewed its attacks, killing hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza right after the expiry of a seven-day truce.

 The truce, after weeks of relentless violence, was a welcome respite for the people of Gaza. However, these seven days were not nearly enough to organize the delivery of sufficient aid and essential supplies to meet the immeasurable needs. 

“We are very worried that the truce has ended, bringing a return to death and destruction,” the letter reads.