UN Condemns the Tragic Loss of Over 100 Aid Workers in Gaza, Marking the Deadliest Toll in Any Conflict to Date
UN mourns the tragic loss of over 100 aid workers in Gaza, the highest toll in its history This somber reminder underscores the vulnerability of humanitarian personnel amidst Israel's relentless bombardment of the besieged strip
The UN announced on Monday that more UN aid workers have been killed in Gaza than in any other conflict in the organization's 78-year history. This serves as a powerful reminder that global humanitarian staff have not been exempt from the continuous bombing by Israel in the besieged strip. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), a total of 102 aid workers were killed and 27 others were injured in Gaza since the start of Israel's war with Hamas over a month ago.
The agency stated that one UNRWA staff member, along with her family, lost their lives in the northern area of the Gaza Strip as a result of strikes. This incident marks the highest number of aid workers from the United Nations who have been killed in a conflict throughout the history of the organization. As a gesture of mourning and respect, UN offices worldwide have lowered their flags to half-mast and UN staff observed a moment of silence on Monday to honor their fallen colleagues in Gaza.
"They will forever be remembered," expressed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as he observed a moment of silence from UN headquarters in New York.
According to UNRWA, the victims, who were part of its 13,000-member workforce in Gaza, tragically lost their lives alongside their families due to the relentless bombardment and blockade imposed by Israel following the October 7 assault carried out by Hamas militants.
According to the statement, the individuals who perished in Israeli airstrikes included teachers, school principals, health workers (including a gynecologist), engineers, support staff, and a psychologist. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, relying on data from the Hamas-controlled territory, reported that at least 11,180 individuals, including 4,609 children, were killed in these attacks.
After the October 7 terror attacks orchestrated by Hamas, which resulted in the death of at least 1,200 individuals in Israel and the abduction of over 200 hostages, a new conflict erupted. Israel, claiming that Hamas has infiltrated Gaza's civilian infrastructure, is engaging in a battle aimed at eradicating the group.
UNRWA, the primary UN organization present in Gaza, currently accommodates over 780,000 individuals in more than 150 excessively populated facilities, despite the deteriorating provision of essential amenities.
Having been founded in the aftermath of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, this agency offers crucial services, including education, healthcare, as well as relief and social assistance.
Following the establishment of the United Nations in 1945, prompted by the Holocaust and the atrocities of World War II, its primary objective was to prevent the recurrence of such acts of violence and to avert future global conflicts. On Wednesday, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, declared that Hamas and Israel have both been responsible for committing war crimes in the last month.
Gaza, with a population of over 2 million people cramped into 140 square miles (362 square kilometers), was already one of the most impoverished areas in the world. For the past 17 years, it has been isolated from the outside world due to an Israeli and Egyptian blockade.
The ongoing siege and bombardment by Israel has worsened the already dire situation in Gaza, leading to a deepening humanitarian crisis. Inside Gaza, the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, and entire neighborhoods have been extensively destroyed.
The agency's staff are working tirelessly with limited resources to assist those who have been displaced in their schools and buildings. They are facilitating the delivery of minimal aid to Gaza and providing support to vulnerable individuals such as pregnant women and babies.
Due to the Israeli blockade on fuel, food, water, and medicine, UNRWAs aid operations in Gaza have been severely limited. Thomas White, director of UNRWA Affairs in the Gaza Strip, stated that the agency will have no choice but to completely stop services, including desalination plants and waste removal, due to the lack of fuel.
UNRWA is facing a shortage of fuel to supply its trucks in Gaza and will be unable to accept aid shipments through the Rafah crossing tomorrow.
In a recent statement, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini acknowledged that their personnel in Gaza are living under the same conditions as the local population.
"They face daily challenges in finding food, water, and keeping their children safe. Despite the significant losses within this organization, they remain dedicated to supporting the people in Gaza to the best of their abilities. However, the struggle is relentless," stated Lazzarini.
In addition, even with the protection provided by international law, aid organizations, NGOs, journalists, and medical professionals have also become casualties of the conflict. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, as of Monday, at least 42 media workers have lost their lives since the beginning of the war.
The agency reported that over 60 UNRWA facilities, mostly schools used as shelters for thousands of civilians, have been damaged by Israeli strikes, causing both collateral and direct harm. Additionally, since October 7, 66 individuals seeking refuge in these facilities have lost their lives. Recently, an Israeli naval strike in Rafah, located in southern Gaza, caused significant damage to one of the agency's buildings. Lazzarini expressed his concern stating that this attack is yet another example of the lack of safety throughout Gaza, emphasizing that no region, whether north, middle, or south, is exempt from danger. He condemned the disregard shown towards the protection of civilian infrastructure, including UN facilities, hospitals, schools, shelters, and places of worship, highlighting the daily hardships endured by Gazan civilians.
The Israeli military stated on Monday that it conducted a strike near a UN building on Sunday due to operational necessities.
According to UNRWA, 70% of the damaged facilities were located south of Wadi Gaza, specifically in the central and southern regions such as Rafah and Khan Younis. This particular area of Gaza is where the Israeli military has advised civilians from the north of Gaza and Gaza City to relocate.
CNNs Tim Lister, Niamh Kennedy, Tamar Michaelis and Kareem El Damanhoury contributed reporting.
