Stanisland Magazine

UNRWA Commissioner-general confirms tragic loss of 59 staff members in Gaza conflict – urgent call for humanitarian aid and ceasefire.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has confirmed that 59 UN staff members have been killed since the start of the conflict in Gaza.

In a statement to UN staff, Lazzarini said: “We have lost at least 59 colleagues, and it pains me greatly to know that there are likely many more deaths we still have to verify.”

The Israeli regime has killed 8,000 people in Gaza, with as many as 3,500 deaths recorded as children.

The Israeli government has imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2006, effectively turning the region into an open-air prison. They have allowed some aid lorries to enter, only for them to be destroyed by air strikes, as a continued campaign against Palestinians continues.

The Commissioner of UNRWA, in a poignant testament to the power of diplomacy, highlighted the modest yet critical success achieved in the provision of sustenance to the beleaguered inhabitants of Gaza. In doing so, he cast a disquieting spotlight on the plight of Gaza’s residents, who find themselves ensnared in a cruel web of international indifference. Emphasizing the indispensable need for unwavering humanitarian access and a cessation of hostilities, the Commissioner underscored the pivotal role these factors play in the efficient and efficacious distribution of much-needed aid.

He finished his statement by thanking his colleagues, reiterating that the work they do counts.

“Thousands of our colleagues, despite the fact that they share the same loss, fear, and daily struggle of millions of Gazans, put on their UN vest and go to work. They are our true heroes. They are the face of humanity during its darkest hours. I am deeply grateful to them and to you all.”