UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini recently expressed profound concerns regarding the deteriorating state of health facilities in Gaza, highlighting that the local health system is collapsing under the strain of ongoing Israeli bombardments and ground operations. The significant destruction of UN premises has further hampered the agency’s capacity to effectively deliver aid. Lazzarini detailed the harrowing conditions in Gaza, where food and clean water have become scarce. He noted that children are succumbing to malnutrition and dehydration, while numerous young individuals are deprived of education, forced to reside in conditions he described as uninhabitable. The number of students forced out of education due to the conflict has risen dramatically, affecting about 300,000 pupils.
The Commissioner-General also warned of the potential escalation of conflicts on the Israel-Lebanon border, which could exacerbate the plight of Palestinian refugees in the region. Lazzarini made a fervent appeal for financial support, emphasizing that UNRWA’s initiatives are at risk of halting entirely without additional funding. The agency requires $1.2 billion to address critical humanitarian needs.
The current military conflict between Israel and Gaza began in October 2023, leading to substantial casualties. The International Court of Justice has twice mandated Israel to permit humanitarian aid entry into Gaza, citing an intensifying humanitarian crisis. These directives follow proceedings initiated by South Africa in January 2024. Despite these orders, conditions on the ground have continued to worsen. In March, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths called on Israel to reverse its decision to block UNRWA’s food convoys to prevent widespread famine.
A recent UNICEF report underscored the severe food scarcity affecting nine out of ten children in Gaza, attributing this to localized conflicts that have disrupted nutritional provisions for children. Additionally, the UN World Food Programme issued a stark warning in May of impending full-scale famine in northern Gaza, should aid restrictions persist. The gravity of the situation necessitates immediate international attention and funding to avert a further humanitarian catastrophe.