The Commissioner-General of the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA has warned that hunger will become the leading cause of death in Gaza and accused Israel of increasing pressure on aid agencies and “trying to dismantle” their presence in Gaza.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Philippe Lazzarini said children have already died from dehydration and hunger and unless Gaza is flooded with food, many others will also die in what he called a “man made famine”.
“We have to increase our response, it is a race against the clock,” Mr Lazzarini said.
Mr Lazzarini said a ceasefire is “overdue” and he is hopeful it will have an impact.
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It comes as the United States announced it would submit for a vote today a draft to the UN’s Security Council on the need for an “immediate ceasefire as part of a hostage deal”.
Mr Lazzarini said UNRWA staff are confronted daily with different challenges, citing an example of the agency’s attempt to send a convoy to the north of Gaza today which was then not allowed to enter.
He described the distress and desperation, and the “constant” looting of their aid trucks by people who are hungry, he also warned if Israel goes ahead with a ground invasion of Rafah, it will be “a total disaster”.
“That would be an offensive in the middle of a sea of displaced people – 1.5 million people,” he said.
He added: “Where would they go? There is absolutely nowhere to go in Gaza for them. There is absolutely no safe place. These people have already been displaced at multiple locations in the Gaza strip.”
Mr Lazzarini explained that when he had tried to get into Gaza this week, he was told he would be denied access hours beforehand, while his colleagues were authorised to enter.
“I haven’t been told why but I guess they have targeted the Commissioner-General, not me personally, but me in my function,” he said.
Responding to the US holding back funding to UNRWA following claims by Israel that some staff were involved in the attacks by Hamas last October, Mr Lazzarini said it will have a “real impact.”
“The US was one of our main contributors, so this is definitely a blow on the finances of the organisation.”
He said it will weaken their ability to respond to the unprecedented crisis in Gaza and to maintain critical services across the region, adding that he was hopeful there will be other donors as he said some donors have resumed their funding to the agency in recent weeks.
“The allegation which has been shared with the organiation has been so far unsubstantiated and many donors have been pleased by the reaction the agency had following this allegation.”
