GAZA, (PIC)
UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini has said that 15 months after the Israeli war started in the Gaza Strip, “horrors continue unabated under the world’s watch.”
In recent social media remarks, Lazzarini said “it is time to release all detained humanitarian staff and all hostages, facilitate humanitarian access to reach people in need wherever they are, and lift the siege on Gaza to bring in much needed humanitarian supplies, including for winter.”
258 UNRWA staffers were killed during the war, while nearly 650 incidents against UNRWA buildings and facilities were recorded, and at least 745 civilians were killed in the agency’s shelters while seeking UN protection. More than 2,200 others were injured, according to Lazzarini who cited latest information from his teams.
Meanwhile, over two thirds of UNRWA buildings are now damaged or destroyed, the vast majority of which were schools before the war, Lazzarini pointed out.
Lazzarini added that at least 20 UNRWA staff are currently in Israeli detention centers, and “those previously released have described systematic mistreatment, humiliation and torture.”
The UNRWA chief also highlighted the situation in northern Gaza, noting that “there has been a significant increase in attacks on our staff, buildings and operations” since Israel stepped up its military operations there nearly three months ago.
“I reiterate my call for independent investigations into the systematic disregard for the protection of humanitarian workers, premises and operations,” he said.
He stressed that “the rules of war are clear”, namely that humanitarians and civilian infrastructure – including hospitals and UN buildings – are not a target, hostage taking is prohibited, and that civilians must be assisted and protected at all times.
