The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that nine out of ten Palestinians have been forcibly displaced in the Gaza Strip, which has been under continuous attack since October 7. According to a post by the agency on the “X” platform, about 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip have been displaced.
Displaced families are seeking shelter wherever possible, including crowded schools, destroyed buildings, modest tents on the sand, or amidst piles of garbage. The agency emphasized that none of these places are safe and that people no longer have a safe destination.
In related developments, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini highlighted the discovery of the polio virus in Gaza as a severe turn in the ongoing misery. According to the World Health Organization, six samples of type 2 poliovirus have been identified in parts of Gaza, although no cases of paralysis have yet been detected. Lazzarini pointed out that this development is due to the deteriorating health system, lack of clean water, sanitation issues, and overcrowded shelters. He mentioned that the disease could be controlled by halting hostilities and increasing the flow of vaccines.
Lazzarini emphasized that a ceasefire and the increased flow of vaccines would help control the disease’s spread. UNRWA is committed to this effort in cooperation with UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
Furthermore, Josep Borrell, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, criticized attempts to label UNRWA as a “terrorist organization” as “nonsense.” He stated that such actions are assaults on regional stability and the dignity of all those benefiting from UNRWA’s work. The Israeli government’s recent actions include legislation attempting to declare UNRWA a terrorist organization and banning its operations in occupied Jerusalem.
