UNRWA: Half of Our Staff in Gaza Have Lost Their Lives
According to the English section of webangah news Agency, citing Mehr News Agency via the Palestine Details Center, Filippo Grandi, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper that 12,000 agency employees in Gaza are exposed to the destruction caused by ongoing conflict just like other civilians.
Highlighting current challenges, he confirmed that health counseling services continue in Gaza despite prohibitions on aid deliveries. Grandi reported approximately 370 UNRWA staff have been killed there and warned this number could rise amid operations in northern areas.
The commissioner also said that UNRWA personnel in the West Bank persist in delivering services amid settler violence and military actions. He noted that UNRWA is on the verge of collapse with a budget shortfall exceeding $200 million. He appealed to United Nations member states to provide necessary funding so the agency can maintain its operations.
Grandi cautioned that without additional funding, he will be forced to make another painful decision. He further emphasized recognition of Palestinian statehood as a necessary step beyond mere acknowledgment.
