NEW YORK: Six workers with the United Nation’s Palestinian refugee agency were killed within 24 hours in Gaza, the international organization said on Tuesday, bringing to 35 the total of its employees killed since October 7.
Humanitarian and aid workers have not been spared in more than two weeks of continuous Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip after Hamas gunmen carried out the worst attack in Israel’s 75-year history.
“Since the start of hostilities, at least sixteen health workers have been killed while on duty, along with 35 UNRWA staff,” the United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA said in an update released on Tuesday regarding the situation up to Monday evening.
“Six of (them) were killed in last 24 hours.”
The UNRWA supports the 5.6 million Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria.
More than 5,000 people have died during Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip, according to numbers given by the health ministry operated by Hamas.
Israel has been retaliating back following the October 7 attacks, which Israeli officials say killed more than 1,400 people who were shot, stabbed or burned to death by Hamas fighters.
Israel, which says Hamas forces also seized 222 hostages, has been preparing a full-scale ground invasion of the densely populated Palestinian enclave.
The UNRWA paid tribute on X, formerly Twitter, “to our 35 colleagues who have been killed in Gaza since October 7”.
“We grieve and we remember. These are not just figures. These are our friends and colleagues,” it said, adding that many of those killed were teachers in UNRWA-run schools.
UN chief Antonio Guterres also expressed grievance on X the loss of “35 of our UNRWA colleagues — humanitarian, teachers — (who) have been killed in Gaza since October 7”.
“We mourn their loss & stand with colleagues doing all they can to assist those in need.”
About 590,000 people — almost half of the more than 1.4 million people who have been displaced within the Gaza Strip since the bombardment started — have taken shelter in UNRWA facilities, OCHA said.
Twelve displaced people have been killed and nearly 180 injured at the UN agency’s schools, while dozens of UNRWA installations have been damaged, it said.
In its update, OCHA warned that aid agencies were struggling to respond to the massive humanitarian needs of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, who have been primarily cut off from electricity, water, food and other basic supplies after an Israeli blockade.
“Humanitarian partners cannot safely access people in need and warehouses where aid supplies are stored,” it said.
Aid finally began trickling in at the weekend, with over 50 trucks carrying food, water and medicine but not fuel making it into Gaza so far.
But the UN claims 100 aid trucks a day are needed.
