UNRWA Leader Covers Gaza Crisis, Aid Efforts, and Communication Blackouts
Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, described the situation in Gaza as an indescribable crisis that feels like hell on earth. The remarks came as he acknowledged that he had not been able to reach most of his teams in Gaza since the previous night, underscoring the extreme uncertainty on the ground.
Speaking with concern for his colleagues and their families, Lazzarini expressed a deep wish for their safety and for an end to the suffering visible in the region. He stated, hope that the extreme conditions will ease and that safer conditions will prevail for all those affected and their loved ones.
He highlighted that the communication blackout is one more step taken to hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip. The UN official noted that such measures would not deter UNRWA from carrying out its essential humanitarian mandate, even amid unprecedented obstacles.
According to Lazzarini, UNRWA remains steadfast and determined to uphold its responsibility to assist refugees and vulnerable residents, continuing its operations despite the mounting challenges. The organization’s resolve, he asserted, is unshaken and focused on reaching those in need with dignity and timely support.
Earlier, data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicated that organizations had raised and allocated approximately 100 million dollars in humanitarian aid for Gaza and the West Bank. This figure reflects the global and regional commitment to alleviating civilian hardship in the area, even as access and safety conditions evolve.
In related developments, messaging platforms have intensified control over content linked to the conflict. Telegram blocked channels affiliated with the Hamas military wing as well as official Hamas channels on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play, a move seen as part of broader efforts to limit disseminating content related to the armed groups on widely used mobile devices.