By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – Head of UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini on Friday underscored its commitment to assist a population whose rights “continue to be violated”.
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini posted on social media X said that “people in Gaza have undergone systematic dehumanization” since the war there began.
He emphasized that “Palestinians do matter, including those in Gaza. Their rights, lives and futures matter,” noting that “human rights cannot be applied selectively.”
US President Donald Trump’s proposal made that the US should seize control of Gaza and permanently displace the entire Palestinian population –a move which the UN Secretary-General said would be an act of “ethnic cleansing.”
Mr. Lazzarini in a statement quoted UN chief António Guterres who has stressed that “peace requires ending the occupation, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, with Gaza as an integral part; a viable and sovereign Palestinian State side-by-side with Israel”.
He said his agency’s teams “are committed to continue providing critical assistance to Palestine refugees who need us most until empowered Palestinian institutions become a lasting and viable alternative.”
UNRWA continues to face huge challenges in carrying out its work, he stressed.
Two Israeli laws came into effect which ban UNRWA operations within its borders and forbid Israeli authorities from having any contact with the agency.
UNRWA was ordered to vacate its premises in East Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank, and visas for international staff were not renewed.
Teams are still providing aid to communities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as in Gaza, where a ceasefire continues to hold following 15 months of war.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Tom Fletcher continued his week-long visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
He visited an UNRWA-run shelter in the city of Deir Al-Balah in Gaza before heading to Jerusalem via the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
Mr. Fletcher met with displaced families who spoke of the hardships they have endured over the past 16 months.
He heard from staff managing the shelter about the ongoing response and challenges they face in providing critical support.
UNRWA site is one of the many schools in Gaza that were turned into shelters.
He met children who are missing out on their education, stressing the need to re-open schools in Gaza as soon as possible.
In Jerusalem, Mr. Fletcher met heads of UN aid agencies and other humanitarians, where he discussed how to sustain aid flows to Gaza and support West Bank operations.
UN agencies continue to provide updates on their work in the Gaza Strip.
WHO said on social media that its team has supported the medical evacuation of 178 patients this month, including 115 children, to Egypt between 12,000 and 14,000 more still need to be evacuated.
WFP has sent over 15,000 tonnes of food into Gaza since the start of the ceasefire, reaching more than 525,000 people with food parcels, hot meals and cash.
UNICEF added that since the ceasefire took effect, it has reached more than 10,000 infants across Gaza with ready to use complementary foods.
UN partners have been assessing the impact of a winter storm on shelters in different locations in the enclave. Partners in the north are also preparing to distribute 1,500 tents to returnees in the Gaza and North Gaza governorates.
Humanitarians noted shelter support is scaling up, one million displaced people are living in substandard tents or makeshift dwellings some families resorting to sewing old rice sacks together for basic cover.
UN humanitarian affairs office has updated on the situation in the West Bank.
It said that the ongoing operations by Israeli forces in Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas continue to displace Palestinians, severely restricting their access to essential services and causing widespread destruction.
Humanitarians estimated that 82 per cent of displaced families in the northern West Bank are currently living in rented accommodations.
OCHA said in a humanitarian update published that half of all Palestinian child fatalities in the West Bank over the past two decades occurred within the last two years.
Over 224 children (218 boys and six girls) have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, represent half of the 468 child fatalities the agency has documented since the beginning of 2005.
They include 11 children killed since January of this year, all by Israeli forces, including six killed in airstrikes, and 10 killed in the northern governorates of the West Bank.
OCHA said “This is generally consistent with trends observed over the past two years,”.
The agency noted that in 2023 and 2024, 64 per cent of Palestinian child fatalities in the West Bank were in the northern governorates.
Most, 82% were shot by live ammunition, and 18 per cent were killed by airstrikes.
Over 2,500 Palestinian children were injured during the same period, 28 per cent of them by live ammunition.
It added that 89 Palestinian children were reported injured by Israeli forces or settlers, 48 per cent by live ammunition.
OCHA added “The significant number of children killed and injured with live ammunition fired by Israeli forces or in airstrikes raises concerns over unnecessary and excessive uses of force against children by Israeli forces during operations in the West Bank,”.
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