The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced the martyrdom of 171 of its employees during the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip since October 7th.
According to the agency’s report today, as of the 25th of this month, the total number of its employees who have been martyred since the start of the war on Gaza reached 171. The agency mentioned that many of its facilities in various parts of the sector have been targeted during the Israeli war on Gaza, the latest being an attack on a food aid distribution center in the Al-Nuseirat camp in central Gaza on March 14th, which resulted in the martyrdom of 8 people.
On Thursday, the United Nations Population Fund announced that Israel is preventing UNRWA from providing aid to Palestinians. The fund stated on the X platform that Israeli authorities are preventing UNRWA, a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees, from delivering vital aid to northern Gaza by refusing approval for food convoys.
In violation of international laws, Israel restricts the access of humanitarian aid to Gaza, especially by land, leading to a shortage of food, medicine, fuel supplies, and causing famine that has resulted in the deaths of children and elderly in the sector that has been besieged for 17 years and is home to about 2.3 million Palestinians living in catastrophic conditions.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza since the outbreak of war on October 7 has reached alarming levels, with severe impacts on medical services, food security, drinking water, and sanitation. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported a significant number of their staff members have been killed amid the conflict, underscoring the dire conditions on the ground. Hospitals are grappling with catastrophic shortages of medical supplies and power outages, putting thousands of patients, including those requiring critical care and newborns, at immediate risk. The situation is exacerbated by a blockade that has restricted access to essential resources like food, medicine, and fuel, leading to famine and the deaths of vulnerable populations in the enclave.
Humanitarian appeals and efforts are hindered by restricted access, with the World Food Programme (WFP) and other organizations struggling to deliver emergency assistance due to closures at key crossings. Nearly half a million people have been unable to access food rations since the onset of hostilities. The UN has launched a flash appeal for funding to address urgent needs, but the healthcare system remains on the brink of collapse, with hospitals operating beyond capacity and the threat of disease outbreaks looming over the densely populated territory.
The international community, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations, has repeatedly called for the protection of civilians and urgent aid access to Gaza. Despite these appeals, the relocation order for 1.1 million people from northern Gaza has raised concerns about the feasibility of such a movement without causing further humanitarian consequences. The crisis in Gaza underscores the need for a concerted effort to find a lasting solution to the conflict and address the immediate humanitarian needs of its population.
