GENEVA: The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, warned on Wednesday about the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, stating that the people of the region are “running out of time and options” as Israel continued relentless bombardments.
Addressing the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, Lazzarini described the situation in Gaza as “hell on earth,” emphasizing the immense challenges faced by the population, including Israeli bombardment, deprivation, and disease in an increasingly confined space.
The ongoing Gaza bombardments, now in its third month, erupted after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. The relentless bombardment and ground operations by Israel have left Gaza in ruins, with more than 18,608 Palestinian people, mostly women and children, have been killed, the Gaza health ministry reported.
Lazzarini stressed that the people of Gaza are experiencing the darkest chapter in their history since 1948, adding that it has been a painful history. The UN estimates that 1.9 million out of Gaza’s 2.4 million people have been displaced, receiving limited aid from around 100 trucks per day.
Aid Deliveries to Gaza Amid Israeli Bombardments
Expressing concern about the inadequacy of the humanitarian response, Lazzarini highlighted the desperation among the population. Aid deliveries often consist of no more than a can of tuna or beans and one bottle of water for a large family to share. He recounted witnessing people stopping aid trucks and swallowing down the food found inside in the street due to desperation.
Moreover, Lazzarini hinted at a potential exodus, emphasizing that the people of Gaza are now confined to less than one-third of the original territory near the Egyptian border. He stated that it is unrealistic to expect people to remain resilient in the face of unlivable conditions, especially when the border is so close.
The city of Rafah on the Egyptian border, the sole crossing for aid entering Gaza, has experienced a population surge from 280,000 to over a million. Lazzarini raised concerns about the collapsing capacities of UNRWA, the agency crucial for aid delivery in Gaza, stating that it is now on the verge of collapse.
