UNRWA warns: Systematic campaign of destruction and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza

The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, issued a stark warning from Brussels, Belgium, asserting that the Gaza Strip is facing a "systematic campaign of destruction" that goes beyond conventional military operations, targeting the very infrastructure of Palestinian existence. These remarks came during the opening of a photo exhibition documenting the ongoing tragedy in the Strip, highlighting the escalating suffering of the population, particularly children, amidst a severe shortage of basic necessities.

Dimensions of the humanitarian disaster and the historical context

Lazzarini explained that the suffering in Gaza has not ended despite talk of new political phases, noting that the severe shortages of shelter, food, healthcare, and education remain the dominant reality. These warnings come at a highly sensitive time for the UN agency established by Resolution 302 of 1949 to provide relief and employment for Palestinian refugees. UNRWA is a lifeline for millions of refugees, not only in Gaza, but also in the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, making any attack on it a threat to the stability of the entire region.

The Commissioner-General noted that agency staff had long documented what he described as a "systematic campaign of destruction" affecting nearly two million people, half of them children. He emphasized that this documentation took place under extremely dangerous security conditions and a media blackout resulting from the denial of access to the Gaza Strip to independent international media, thus lending paramount importance to the testimonies and data the UN agency provides to the world.

UNRWA's pivotal role amidst the rubble

Despite the enormous challenges, Lazzarini stressed that UNRWA remains the backbone of humanitarian work in Gaza, providing:

• Approximately 40% of primary healthcare services are in the sector.
• Conducting up to 18,000 medical consultations daily.
• Implementing vital vaccination campaigns and nutritional checks for children.
• Water quality management, well operation, desalination systems, and waste management.

In the education sector, the agency continues its efforts to save an entire generation from being lost, by providing in-person education to approximately 60,000 children and online education to nearly 300,000. Lazzarini emphasized that getting children back into school is not merely an educational process, but a top priority for mental health, trauma treatment, and building hope to prevent them from sliding into extremism.

Existential challenges and legal violations

The Commissioner-General addressed the existential threats facing the Agency, emphasizing the seriousness of new Israeli legislation aimed at undermining UNRWA's work. He specifically mentioned the practice of cutting off water and electricity to Agency facilities in occupied East Jerusalem, as well as the raids and destruction of the Agency's headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.

International observers consider these practices a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, which grants immunities and privileges to international organizations. Attempts to dismantle UNRWA or cripple its operations not only mean the cessation of relief services but also represent an attempt to politically erase the Palestinian refugee issue, potentially exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe and transforming it into an intractable regional crisis.