Following his second Gaza visit, UNRWA Commissioner General renews urgent calls for a long-standing humanitarian ceasefire

From UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini

RAFAH/KHAN YOUNIS (SOUTHERN GAZA), 23 November 2023 – “I have just returned from my second visit to the Gaza Strip since the war began. I bear witness to the unspeakable suffering of people.

“Since my first visit two weeks ago, the humanitarian situation has already become far worse. Displacement continues. UNRWA now hosts more than 1 million people in its schools and premises across the Gaza Strip.

“As we all anticipate the beginning of the much-awaited pause, I reiterate my call for a long-standing humanitarian ceasefire. People are exhausted and are losing hope in humanity. They need respite, they deserve to sleep without being anxious about whether they will make it through the night. This is the bare minimum anyone should be able to have.

“The pause is also an opportunity to reach people in need including in the north and to start repairing civilian infrastructure.

“UNRWA is committed to continue bringing assistance to people in need. We are ready to receive more than 150 trucks of aid per day without interruption.

“It is time to scrap the bureaucratic hurdles and limits imposed on the humanitarian community so that we expand and speed up the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian assistance to more than 2 million people.”