UNRWA Chief: Gaza Current Aid ‘A Needle in a Haystack’
Lazzarini Urges Immediate, Uninterrupted Aid Flow to Prevent Further Humanitarian Collapse
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), issued a stark warning over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling for an immediate and sustained flow of humanitarian aid to avert further disaster.
“No one should be surprised, let alone shocked, by scenes of precious aid being looted, stolen, or lost,” Lazzarini said, as he painted a grim picture of a population enduring over eleven weeks of deprivation.
“The people of Gaza have been deliberately starved and deprived of even the most basic necessities, including water and medicine,” he continued. “Parents have run out of food for their children. Elderly people have died due to the absence of life-saving medicines.”
Current Aid ‘A Needle in a Haystack’
Lazzarini described the current volume of aid entering Gaza as vastly insufficient, comparing it to “a needle in a haystack.”
He stressed that a minimum of 500 to 600 aid trucks per day is urgently required to begin meeting the needs of over two million people trapped in the war-torn enclave.
“The least needed is 500–600 trucks every day, managed through the UN, including UNRWA,” he stated. “During the temporary ceasefire, we managed to bring in that amount daily without diversion or looting.”
Lives Must Take Precedence Over Politics
The UN official emphasized that saving lives must now take precedence over military objectives or political maneuvering. “A meaningful and uninterrupted flow of aid is the only way to prevent the current disaster from spiraling further,” he said.
He concluded with a plea to the international community: “The people of Gaza cannot wait any longer.”
As Gaza continues to reel from relentless Israeli bombardment and siege, humanitarian agencies warn that without immediate intervention, the region may soon face a catastrophe far beyond recovery. (PW)