UN says Griffiths quitting, 'health reasons' cited
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The UN spokesperson explains that Griffiths will continue in his role until the end of June to allow a "smooth transition" to a replacement who has yet to be named.
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Martin Griffiths, the UN's under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, in Damascus on June 26, 2023. (AFP)
UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, who has played a significant role in pushing for relief to Gaza and previously supervised operations in Yemen, is stepping down due to illness, the global organization announced Monday.
Griffiths, the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency assistance coordinator, "has informed the secretary-general of his intention to step down for health reasons," according to UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq.
Haq added that Griffiths will continue in his role until the end of June to allow a "smooth transition" to a replacement who has yet to be named.
Griffiths, a British attorney, has repeatedly urged "Israel" to let humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip while it wages a brutal war on Palestinians, killing over 32,000 Palestinians and injuring over 74,694 more.
Last month, he advised the occupation against an assault on Rafah, where over 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge, saying that such an operation "could lead to a slaughter."
Life is draining out of Gaza at terrifying speed. pic.twitter.com/5Wd4w8aurX
— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) February 29, 2024
Griffiths formerly served as the UN Special Envoy for Yemen and as a Syria advisor. He has also worked for international humanitarian groups, including UNICEF, Save the Children, and ActionAid.
URNWA chief outraged by Israeli ban of food convoys to North Gaza
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini on Sunday published a tweet expressing outrage over "Israel's" recent decision to block the entry of food convoys to northern Gaza.
"This is outrageous and makes it intentional to obstruct lifesaving assistance during a man-made famine. These restrictions must be lifted," Lazzarini said on social media platform X.
📍# Gaza: as of today, @UNRWA, the main lifeline for #Palestine Refugees, is denied from providing lifesaving assistance to northern Gaza.
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) March 24, 2024
Despite the tragedy unfolding under our watch, the Israeli Authorities informed the UN that they will no longer approve any @UNRWA food… pic.twitter.com/lfp9xRQuh1
Starvation is one of the many strategies used by the Israeli regime to lead its genocidal campaign on the Gaza Strip. Recent reports have shown that several people have died so far due to starvation.
This is compounded by several massacres that have taken place at the Kuwaiti Roundabout as people gathered to collect food supplies from aid trucks.
Due to several pictures circulating across social media showing bags of flour drenched in blood, these massacres acquired the label of "flour massacres".
The latest massacre occurred just a day ago and claimed the lives of 19 people while injuring 23 others.
During a visit to the Rafah crossing yesterday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "I see a long line of aid trucks blocked by Israel, a long line of hunger & starvation."
