The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has emphasized that the entire population of Gaza is experiencing dehumanization, with thousands of children losing their lives in Israeli airstrikes.
UNRWA has been advocating for a humanitarian ceasefire to provide essential aid to over 2 million civilians facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
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There is a pressing need for the safe release of 238 hostages believed to be held by Hamas.
The UN’s Commissioner General for UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, stressed that these casualties, particularly among children, cannot be dismissed as collateral damage.
He emphasized that an immediate humanitarian ceasefire has become a matter of life and death for millions in Gaza.
Furthermore, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the scale of suffering in Gaza is challenging to convey.
The lack of essential supplies to support internally displaced people at this magnitude is a dire concern.
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Israeli military operations in Gaza have continued, with ground troops advancing into the territory, while airstrikes persist.
The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life, with most casualties being civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.
UNRWA highlighted that this conflict has led to the tragic deaths of 64 UN aid workers, marking the highest number of UN aid workers killed in a conflict within such a short timeframe.
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The dire situation is exemplified by personal tragedies, like that of Samir, who lost his life alongside his wife and eight children.
Despite the constant threat to their lives, the people of Gaza persevere, showing remarkable resilience amid these challenging circumstances.