'Israel' denies UNRWA Chief's entry into Rafah amid disastrous state

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Mar 2024 20:27

Philippe Lazzarini has stated that UNRWA and other organizations have been working toward relieving Gaza, amid its terrible state.

The Commissioner-General of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the UNRWA headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023 (AP)

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini reiterated, once again, that the state of Gazan grounds is grievous.

In a joint press conference with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, Lazzarini affirmed that UNRWA continues to coordinate and work alongside the Palestinian side, the World Food Programme, and other UN organizations and agencies, as 'Israel' drags its genocide for the 164th day.

Lazzarini also revealed that the Israeli occupation government prevented his visit to Rafah in southern Gaza, "Israel's" invasion target, where the largest number of refugees and displaced civilians reside.

On the day new data is out on famine in #GAZA, the Israeli Authorities deny my entry to Gaza.

-Famine is imminent in the northern Gaza Strip, expected to arrive between now and May.
- Two million people= the entire population of Gaza is facing crisis levels of food insecurity…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) March 18, 2024

WHO urges 'Israel' to halt planned assault on Rafah

In this context, the backlash has reached 'Israel' regarding its plan to move forward with the invasion of Rafah.

The President of the World Health Organization (WHO) implored the Israeli occupation "in the name of humanity" not to begin an assault on Rafah, where the majority of Gaza's population is fleeing.

"I'm gravely concerned about reports of an Israeli plan to proceed with a ground assault on Rafah," WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X.

"Further escalation of violence in this densely populated area would lead to many more deaths and suffering," he went on to say.

Ghebreyesus remarked that it was impractical to go forward with the so-called "evacuation plan" and that the 1.2 million Palestinians in Rafah have nowhere safe to relocate to.

He also added that many Palestinians are "too fragile, hungry, and sick" to relocate and the "Catastrophe" taking place in Gaza should not be allowed to worsen.