On August 2nd, local time, Philippe Lazare, the Director-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), stated on social media that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is largely due to the “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation,” established by the US and Israel with political motives, deliberately replacing the UN-led humanitarian coordination system. This so-called “assistance system” is responsible for the deaths of nearly 1,400 people.
Lazare mentioned that the current deterioration of the situation in Gaza is due to the fact that since March 2nd, the UNRWA has been completely barred from providing any assistance to Gaza for five months. He stated that marginalizing and weakening the UNRWA is unrelated to allegations of aid materials being diverted by armed groups. This was a “premeditated move” aimed at “imposing collective pressure and punishment on Palestinians living in Gaza.”
Lazare expressed that there is no more time to waste and called for the unconditional reopening of border crossing points. He also urged for the full participation of the experienced and resourceful UNRWA in relief efforts to reverse the situation in Gaza. (CCTV) Wang Yin