He stated that the lack of fuel would result in a lack of water, functioning hospitals, and bakeries. It would also prevent aid from reaching those who are in desperate need. The absence of fuel would also hinder humanitarian assistance. Ultimately, it would have a devastating impact on the children, women, and people of Gaza.
UNRWA is the largest humanitarian agency in the Gaza Strip, which is home to more than two million people. More than a million have been displaced since the start of the latest hostilities on 7 October, with over half a million now sheltering in its facilities.
This should not occur.
Mr. Lazzarini cautioned that without access to fuel, we risk failing the people of Gaza, whose needs are increasing rapidly while we are responsible for their well-being. He emphasized that this situation is unacceptable and must be addressed.
He called on all parties and individuals with power to promptly permit fuel to enter Gaza and to guarantee its sole purpose is to prevent the disruption of humanitarian efforts.
While he expressed approval for the arrival of the initial humanitarian shipment in Gaza on Saturday, Mr. Lazzarini emphasized that it fell short and emphasized the ongoing necessity for aid.
29 staff killed
On Sunday, UNRWA released a recent update on the situation, stating that an additional 13 employees have lost their lives and 17 have been wounded since the start of the conflict. This brings the overall number of casualties within the organization to 29.
On the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, UNRWA stated that 50% of the fatalities were educators.
The report also stated that 12 individuals who had been displaced and taking shelter at UNRWA schools were killed, and around 180 were injured.
Source: news.un.org