100 days of death, destruction and displacement: UNRWA
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On the 100th day of the war in Gaza, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini emphasizes that the war is a man-made catastrophe exacerbated by the manipulation of essential resources such as food, water, and fuel as tools of war.
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The Commissioner-General of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the UNRWA headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, December 6, 2023. (AP)
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini commented on the Israeli war on the besieged Gaza Strip saying, "The massive death, destruction, displacement, hunger, loss, and grief of the last 100 days are staining our shared humanity."
"In the past 100 days, sustained bombardment across the Gaza Strip caused the mass displacement of a population that is in a state of flux - constantly uprooted and forced to leave overnight, only to move to places which are just as unsafe. This has been the largest displacement of the Palestinian people since 1948," he added.
According to Lazzarini's statement, "Overcrowded and unsanitary UNRWA shelters have now become 'home' to more than 1.4 million people. They lack everything, from food to hygiene to privacy. People live in inhumane conditions, where diseases are spreading, including among children. They live through the unlivable, with the clock ticking fast towards famine."
He stressed that the war in Gaza is a man-made catastrophe exacerbated by dehumanizing rhetoric and the manipulation of essential resources such as food, water, and fuel as tools of war. The humanitarian effort has swiftly evolved into one of the most intricate and demanding globally, primarily due to intricate protocols for aid entry into the Gaza Strip and numerous challenges hindering aid's safe and organized distribution, including persistent hostilities.
The UNRWA chief also asserted that merely providing humanitarian aid will not be enough to avert an impending famine; there must also be permission for the unrestricted flow of commercial goods.
Largest displacement of Palestinians since 1948
Concerning the ceasefire, Lazzarini explained that "despite repeated calls, a humanitarian ceasefire is still not in place to stop the killing of people in Gaza and enable the safe delivery of food, medicine, water and shelter. The onset of winter makes life even more unbearable, especially for those living out in the open."
Moreover, he posted in a statement on X that the war on Gaza triggered "the largest displacement of the Palestinian people since 1948."
In the past 100 days, sustained bombardment across the #GazaStrip caused the mass displacement of a population that is in a state of flux - constantly uprooted and forced to leave overnight, only to move to places which are just as unsafe.
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) January 13, 2024
This has been the largest displacement… pic.twitter.com/rEp2viGJUK
Over the last 100 days, Lazzarini explained, a continuous barrage of attacks throughout the Gaza Strip has led to the widespread displacement of a population experiencing a constant state of flux - regularly uprooted and compelled to depart overnight, relocating to equally precarious areas.
Ashraf al-Qudra, the spokesperson for the Gaza Ministry of Health, said on Saturday that the occupation massacred 12 families in the Gaza Strip, killing 135 people and injuring another 312 in the last 24 hours. Al-Qudra said that a large number of victims remain under their rubble, in areas that emergency services cannot reach.
In total, the number of martyred individuals in the Gaza Strip has risen to 23,843 while 60,317 people were injured, according to the spokesperson.
