Gaza ‘sinking deeper into conflict’, says UNRWA chief
UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini arrives for a press conference on the situation in Gaza at the United Nations offices in Geneva, on April 30, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
UNRWA Chief Philippe Lazzarini has painted a dire picture of the situation in Gaza, stating that the region is “sinking deeper into conflict” after a year of brutal war.
The devastating consequences of the ongoing conflict have left Gaza unrecognizable, with Lazzarini describing it as “a graveyard for tens of thousands of people, among them far too many children.”
The somber assessment comes as the death toll in Gaza continues to rise, with reports indicating that over 43,000 people have lost their lives, including 128-139 journalists and media workers, and more than 224 humanitarian aid workers.
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“One year has passed and not a day goes by without families in Gaza being subjected to unspeakable suffering, as forced displacement, disease, hunger, and death have become the daily norm for two million people trapped in a bombed-out and besieged enclave,” said Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
He added that “more than 220 UNRWA team members” have been killed.
“It is time for courage: a deal that would finally bring a ceasefire and respite to people in Gaza, Lebanon, Israel and the wider region,” he urged, warning of the danger of “sinking deeper into conflict, killing and sheer horrors”.
