In light of the rumors of a possible ceasefire in Gaza, the Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, expressed his “hope and expectation” for an agreement that is “desperately needed.” The population of Gaza is in a critical situation after nearly 660 days of conflict, displacement, and constant bombardments.
Lazzarini emphasized the urgency of an agreement that not only stops hostilities but also alleviates hunger and allows for the release of hostages. In his statements on social media, he highlighted the importance of restoring humanitarian aid under UN mechanisms, assuring that UNRWA has the capacity and knowledge necessary to implement assistance in the region.
The announcement of a 60-day ceasefire was recently made by U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged Hamas to accept the proposed agreement. Meanwhile, conditions on the ground are alarming. UNRWA has indicated that hunger has become a weapon of war, causing people to faint in the streets due to a lack of food and clean drinking water. In this context, the Agency is urging the lifting of the siege and the safe restoration of humanitarian aid.
According to the organization, the new Israeli distribution plan has been labeled as “degrading,” as people in search of food must travel long distances, often facing gunfire. In Gaza, there were previously 400 food distribution points, but currently, only four are operational, exacerbating the supply crisis.
There is also a severe shortage of essential medicines; medical staff report attending to between 1,000 and 1,200 cases daily, with a disproportionate impact on women, children, and people with chronic illnesses. UNRWA has warned of the accumulation of more than 6,000 trucks at the border, loaded with food and medicines that will soon expire. Additionally, it criticized that the first medical shipment from the World Health Organization was insufficient to address the crisis facing the population. UNRWA reiterates that it is vital to lift the siege and facilitate the mass entry of humanitarian aid to mitigate the health and nutritional crisis in Gaza.
via: MiMub in Spanish
