United Nations Refugee Agency Chief Laments New Relief Mechanism in Gaza
The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Philippe Lazzarini, has sharply criticized the new aid mechanism in Gaza, established through the newly founded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). In a statement made in Berlin on Tuesday, Lazzarini described the new mechanism as a “shame and humiliation for the people” and a “death trap that costs more lives than it saves.”
The UNRWA chief called for a return to tried and tested international aid mechanisms and increased financial support for his institution. With a “very strained” financial situation, Lazzarini warned that his agency’s liquidity is now managed on a weekly basis, rather than monthly and that without further funding, he will soon be forced to make unprecedented decisions that will have a direct impact on Palestinian refugees across the region.
Lazzarini also lamented the ongoing atrocities in the Gaza Strip, stating that no place in the region is safe and that hospitals, schools, bunkers and refugee camps are all being targeted. The UNRWA chief reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire and the unconditional release of hostages, emphasizing that there is no alternative to addressing the challenges of the hunger crisis in Gaza.