Fifteen months on the war in Gaza, horrors continue unabated under the world's watch.
I received the latest from our teams
Since the beginning of the war:
- 258 UNRWA staff members have been killed.
- Nearly 650 incidents against UNRWA buildings & facilities were recorded.
- At least 745 people were killed in our shelters while seeking United Nations protection & more than 2,200 were injured.
- Over two thirds of the UNRWA buildings are now damaged or destroyed. The vast majority were used as schools for children before the war.
- We continue to receive reports that Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups have used our facilities. On several occasions, we were also able to verify the occupation of our facilities by the Israeli Armed Forces.
- Currently, there are at least 20 UNRWA staff in Israeli detention centres. Those previously released have described systematic mistreatment, humiliation and torture.
Meanwhile in northern Gaza, since the intensification of the military operation nearly three months ago, there has been a significant increase in attacks on our staff, buildings & operations.
I reiterate my call for independent investigations into the systematic disregard for the protection of humanitarian workers, premises and operations. This cannot become the new standard and impunity cannot become the new norm.
The rules of war are clear:
- Humanitarian workers & civilian infrastructure including hospitals & UN buildings are not a target.
- Hostage taking is prohibited.
- The civilian population must be assisted & protected at all times.
It's time to:
- Release all detained humanitarian staff & all hostages.
- Facilitate humanitarian access to reach people in need wherever they are.
- Lift the siege on Gaza to bring in much needed humanitarian supplies including for winter.
#CeasefireNow
UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency's area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.
UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.
UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.
