Image Credits: Anadolu Ajansı
Philippe Lazzarini, the chief of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), revealed that almost 200 UNRWA employees have lost their lives in Gaza since the onset of Israel’s offensive almost 10 months ago. Lazzarini made the statement on Saturday, highlighting the grim milestone that underscores the human toll of the conflict.
“When the conflict in Gaza began nearly 10 months ago, no one anticipated reaching this tragic milestone. Almost 200 UNRWA team members have been killed in Gaza,” Lazzarini stated in a post on X. He emphasized, “These are not numbers, these are our colleagues and our friends,” lamenting the unprecedented loss of UN personnel in a single conflict or natural disaster since the UN’s inception. Lazzarini reiterated the UN Secretary-General’s call for full accountability for each of these deaths.
The death toll in Gaza continues to rise, with over 39,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, having lost their lives amidst the relentless bombardment. The recent Israeli airstrike on a school in Deir el-Balah killed at least 30 people, including children, who were seeking refuge. The UN’s humanitarian aid agency reports that hundreds of Palestinians remain trapped in eastern Khan Younis due to intense hostilities, with rescue teams unable to reach them because the Israeli military denied access.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has become critically severe. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) notes a 56 per cent decrease in the daily volume of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip since April. The blockade has resulted in severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports ongoing casualties, with the recent attacks not yet fully reflected in the official death toll.
The armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, has reported clashes with Israeli troops in Gaza City, claiming to have killed and wounded several soldiers. These ongoing confrontations contribute to the escalating violence and humanitarian disaster in the region.
The international community has increasingly called for accountability and an immediate ceasefire. The scale of destruction and loss of life in Gaza has led to accusations of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice. As the conflict drags on, the world watches with growing concern over the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.