To discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza,## but also other humanitarian crises around# the wo the U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian# affairs and emergency relief coordinator.

Martin Griffiths, thanks very much.# Welcome back to the "NewsHour."

Let's start in Gaza.

The WFP said today that# very lit and Northern Gaza and that there is still# a risk of famine.

How serious is that risk?

MARTIN GRIFFITHS, U.N. Undersecretary-General for## And what's quite striking in Gaza if you compare it to other parts of# the world.

We estimate maybe 400,000 people## are seriously at risk of famine.

Moving aid# around in Gaza is, in all practical terms,## impossible.

Getting food to these people since# up October the 7th has been very, very difficult.

It's a very, very rapid# decline and it's very worrying.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Today, the Israeli# government spokesman Eylon Levy said## that there are -- quote -- "no limitations# on humanitarian aid," and he adde EYLON LEVY, Israeli Government Spokesman: It# is lamentable that U.N. officials who have also## been covering up for the fact that Hamas hijacks# aid and co war out of hospitals are trying to cover up# their own systemic failure by demanding the## opening of new entry routes, when there is already# adequate and excess capacity at the existing ones.

NICK SCHIFRIN: What's your# response to that statement?

MARTIN GRIFFITHS: I think it's extremel think it's wrong to suggest that# we don't need more entry p But, most importantly, if the conditions# inside Gaza, the operational conditions,## don't exist for the distribution of aid,# don't blame us for that.

They result from## the conflict.

And they include safety of# movement.

They include roads which are## not mined.

They include assurances that places# that we will deliver aid to won't be attacked.

They include hospitals that are not places# of war.

They include not taking out of our## trucks when they're being screened on the# way in.

So I don't think it's right to## blame humanitarian agencies for what is# a very, very, very difficult operation.

NICK SCHIFRIN: You mentioned hospitals.

Hamas# operates near hospitals and has fired rockets## near hospitals.

The U.S. and Israel accuses# Hamas of using hospitals as command-and-control.

And, in Southern Gaza, just in the last# few days, we have seen Israeli forces## surrounding at least two hospitals.

What# are your concerns for the patients in those## hospitals and also the displaced Gazans# who use the hospitals as a refuge place?

MARTIN GRIFFITHS: The hospitals are protected# under international humanitarian law and should## not ever be used by military forces from# wherever they come from whichever party,## Hamas included, as places of refuge# or operation, of operational basis.

So to have a situation where the few hospitals# that still continue to exist, where the patients## find themselves in the middle of a war zone, where# entry into an exit out of is through fighting, is,## of course, a terrible, terrible thing to# see and a terrible stain on our humanity.

And if that is because Hamas is sheltering there,## then they should not do so.

The central# aspect of the tr is the total uncertainty for civilians about# what's going to happen to them next.

Where## will they be?

Where can they find food?

Will# there be safety?

Where can that be found?

And the hospital example, if you like,## of that encapsulates that sense of absolute# danger and unc NICK SCHIFRIN: I want to shift to Yemen,# where nine years of war has caused what## you and I used to talk about as the# world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Over the last few months, Houthi rebels# have launched more than 30 attacks at## international ships, both commercial and# warships.

And in the last 10 or so days,## the U.S., U.K. and an international consortium# have launched eight strikes on Houthis in Yemen.

Do you fear the violence could derail# the progress that has been made toward## a political settlement between the# Houthis and, on the other side,## the Saudi-backed international coalition that# you were right in the middle of MA RTIN GRIFFITHS: I am totally, totally# concerned about that, yes, Nick.

The people of Yemen have waited long enough# and have glimpsed in the recent weeks the## possibility of a cease-fire and an end# to this tragic, unnecessary and brutal## war.

And suddenly to find it at huge risk and# possibly taken away is just too, too depressing.

I think it would be very difficult for the# Saudis and their allies to continue to ignore## Houthi aggression into the Red Sea.

At the# moment, it's still kind of more or less not## being allowed to get out of hand, if I could# put it that way.

But I don't see that lasting.

The Saudis got to the point with the Houthis# of elaborating a plan for a cease-fire in some## detail with some associated advantages for the# people of Yemen.

It was close to moving on to## the next phase.

Suddenly, to see that# snatched away, that's just so unjust.

NICK SCHIFRIN: You recently released# the humanitarian appeal for Ukraine,## where some 40 percent of the population needs aid.## That's 14.6 million people.

And# you're asking for $3.1 bil Are you getting what you need# for the people of Ukraine?

MARTIN GRIFFITHS: Well, we're not getting# what we need for the people not, as it were, even in Ukraine.

What was depressing about launching we're so close to entering the third year of# that war, what the secretary-general of the## United Nations clearly decided to label a war,# and it is a war, against the people of Ukraine.

Now, I think Ukraine is going to be another# sad, sad story.

And the fact of the matter## is that Gaza, it had moved Ukraine out# of the center of the story.

Ukraine and## Gaza have moved Sudan out of the center# of the story.

And do you remember there## was a place called Afghanistan we used to# talk about that hasn't got resolved yet?

NICK SCHIFRIN: You went even# further when we were talking## earlier.

You used the phrase a# How depressing, from your perspective?

MARTIN GRIFFITHS: I cannot remember a year which# a world where leaders often choose war first# as an instrument to resolve differences.

We have spent the last 75 years building the# new international order, norms, regulations,## rules of diplomacy, efforts to keep the# peace, efforts to emphasize the need for## negotiation first.

And, in this last year or two,# we have begun to see that disappear, to vanish.

And that's why I think we call this# the age of wars, because it really is,## war is the first instrument for# many people.

And it's a savage one,## because of people who suffer, as we# were discussing at the top of the piece,## of the civilians who have had# nothing to do with those decisions.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Martin Griffiths,# the undersecretary-general for## humanitarian affairs and emergency# relief coordin MARTIN GRIFFITHS: Thank you so# much, Nick.

Thanks for having me on.