UNRWA Confirms 380 Staff Killed in Gaza Amid Israeli Efforts to Dissolve Agency
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has affirmed that the agency continues its operations in the Gaza Strip despite significant external pressures.
Philippe Lazzarini, speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, disclosed that since the onset of the war on October 7, 2023, more than 380 UNRWA staff members have been killed in the enclave.
Lazzarini highlighted that UNRWA is currently contending with severe political and legal challenges orchestrated by the Zionist regime. He stated that a destructive campaign waged by Israel has exacerbated the agency’s budgetary crisis, leading to a 20 percent reduction in service delivery due to funding shortages.
The Commissioner-General further emphasized the critical humanitarian situation, noting that Palestinians in Gaza have been deprived of their right to education and stressing that the return of students to educational environments is an absolute necessity. He added that despite ongoing violence, UNRWA is maintaining the operation of its schools in the West Bank.
Lazzarini also revealed that, as a direct result of decisions made by the Zionist regime, no international UNRWA employees are currently present in the West Bank. He maintained that the agency must remain a crucial component of any future political resolution concerning the Palestinians.
The senior international official concluded his remarks by warning that the Zionist entity harbors intentions to dismantle UNRWA, specifically targeting its presence within the occupied Palestinian territories.
