In a recent interview with CNN, UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini emphasized that there are no safe zones whatsoever in the Gaza Strip. He called for an immediate ceasefire and an increase in humanitarian aid to the region.
Lazzarini stated, “There are no safe zones at all in Gaza. There might be corridors to allow people to go from north to south, but if you look at the United Nations, which usually has facilities to protect people, 60% of our facilities have been hit. 70% of these facilities were in the south, leading to the deaths of more than 60 people and the injury of hundreds.”
He continued, noting that a UN guesthouse in the southern part of Gaza had been targeted by shelling, fortunately without any UN staff inside at the time of the rocket strike.
Regarding the deaths of over a hundred UN employees in Gaza since October 7th, 2022, the UNRWA Commissioner-General described it as a catastrophic situation. He also expressed concerns that the actual death toll of UN staff might be higher, as there could be more victims under the rubble or among those who have lost contact.
Speaking about the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Lazzarini stressed that the primary call was for an immediate ceasefire and a significant increase in aid entering Gaza. He emphasized that it’s not just humanitarian aid but also the critical need to restore essential services like water and electricity that humanitarian workers are unable to provide to the 2.2 million people in Gaza who have lost everything.
Lazzarini explained that the Riyadh Summit and his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jordan are of utmost importance to build consensus on the urgent need for a ceasefire. He emphasized that the current situation in which only a few trucks can enter Gaza makes no significant difference and warned, “Very soon, people in Gaza will start dying because of the impact of the harsh blockade on 2.2 million people.”
When asked how optimistic he is about the possibility of achieving a ceasefire, Lazzarini stated, “What is unfolding before our eyes is unbearable, and I hope that we have now reached the point where we say enough is enough.” He expressed his belief that more and more leaders are calling for a ceasefire.
Lazzarini also mentioned being informed that if they don’t receive fuel today, there will be no aid convoys in Gaza starting tomorrow, highlighting the depletion of fuel supply essential for hospitals, water stations, and bakeries, as well as all UNRWA shelters throughout Gaza.
