The UN agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has alerted to the inadequacy of current aid efforts in Gaza Monday.
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA's chief, emphasized that the limited aid convoys through the Rafah border crossing fall far short of meeting the "unprecedented humanitarian needs" of over two million people in Gaza.
Since October 7th, Israel's extensive bombing on Gaza has resulted in the destruction of thousands of buildings and the killing of over 8,000 Palestinians, primarily civilians, according to Gaza's health ministry.
Before the conflict, an average of 500 trucks laden with essential supplies entered Gaza daily. This figure has drastically decreased, with only 33 trucks managing to reach Gaza through Rafah on a recent Sunday, as confirmed by UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Lazzarini stressed that the current aid system is on the brink of failure unless there is a concerted political will to ensure the effective flow of supplies, commensurate with the unprecedented humanitarian crisis at hand. He urged the UN Security Council to take immediate action by demanding a humanitarian ceasefire.
Tragically, Lazzarini said that 64 of his UNRWA colleagues had been killed in just over three weeks, "the highest number of UN aid workers killed in a conflict in such a short time." He added that a UN worker named Samir, as well Samir's wife and eight children, had been killed just hours before the meeting.
"My UNRWA colleagues are the only glimmer of hope for the entire Gaza Strip, a ray of light as humanity sinks into its darkest hour. But they are running out of fuel, water, food and medicine and will soon be unable to operate," said the Swiss-Italian official.
"An entire population is being dehumanized," warned Lazzarini, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention and relief to prevent further catastrophe.
