Statement of UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini at the virtual follow-up conference to the International Humanitarian Conference for the civilian population in Gaza

DELIVERED FROM BEIRUT VIA ZOOM, 6 December 2023

Je vous remercie Madame la Ministre,

Excellences,

Je remercie à nouveau la France pour sa position forte en faveur de la protection des populations civiles dans la bande de Gaza. Je vous remercie particulièrement, Madame la Ministre, pour votre engagement et votre soutien envers l’UNRWA.

Si vous me le permettez, je vais continuer en anglais.

The resumption and intensification of hostilities in Gaza is the darkest chapter yet of this catastrophic war.

The Israeli Forces continue to order civilians to move south, while bombarding buildings and essential infrastructure across the Gaza Strip.

At least 88 UNRWA premises have been hit, sometimes directly. More than 250 people have been killed and more than 900 wounded while seeking protection under the blue flag.

More than a million people have moved to the south of Wadi Gaza, where shelter and infrastructure are limited.

In the last few days, civilians in the South, in Khan Younis, were ordered to move further southwest to Rafah, at the border with Egypt.

More than 600,000 people are being forced to evacuate the Middle and South of Gaza, including from our United Nations shelters.

But where are they supposed to go?

Certainly not to so-called “safe zones” – there is no such thing if declared unliterally in a war zone.

Madame Minister,

In the next 48 hours, there will likely be 22,000 people per square kilometer in Rafah governorate.

Tens of thousands are sleeping in the streets without adequate food, water, or sanitation.

The aid entering Gaza is utterly insufficient.

Since the war began, Gaza has received meagre supplies and strictly limited fuel.

Bombardments and the siege have created conditions of life that are inhumane and degrading.

An end to the fighting is imperative if we are to avert the decimation of Gaza and contain the spillover of this crisis.

Indeed, tensions are rising across the region.

The West Bank is gripped by deadly violence not seen in 15 years.

At the same time, the economy is collapsing.

And in Beirut, where I am today, Palestine Refugees are deeply worried about the expansion of this war.

Madame la Ministre,

The humanitarian pause gave us a glimpse of what can be achieved when hostilities cease.

We were able to increase the number of trucks going into the Strip and to deliver food, water, and medical supplies across Gaza, including to some of the most vulnerable people in the North.

We restocked medicine and fuel supplies for some hospitals and repaired some critical infrastructure.

But the renewed hostilities are strangling the humanitarian response.

We must prevent further loss of civilian lives, including those sheltered under the UN flag and in other public infrastructure.

For this, international humanitarian law must be truly respected, not reinterpreted.

Humanitarian organizations must be able to work unhindered and aid, including fuel, should be meaningful, uninterrupted, and unconditional.

The siege must end, and we need an enduring humanitarian ceasefire.

But aid agencies alone cannot cover the needs of more than two million people.

Commercial goods must be allowed into Gaza.

All crossings must be open, especially crossing points with Israel like Kerem Shalom.

The entire Strip, including the North and Khan Younis, must be accessible.

Last, but not least, UNRWA still needs funds.

It is the primary organisation providing life-saving aid to over 2.2 million people in Gaza. Of the 1.9 million people currently displaced, a staggering 1.2 million now shelter in our facilities.

Donors have been generous, but humanitarian needs are outpacing our fundraising efforts.

Our flash appeal for Gaza remains half funded. We still need 246 million dollars to cover urgent humanitarian needs.

We still need an additional 50 million dollars for our core budget until the end of this month, including to pay the salaries of staff on the frontlines in Gaza.

Madame la Ministre,

We are reaching a point of no return in Gaza, where the blatant disregard for international humanitarian law scars our collective conscience.

States must find the political will to end this tragedy. Failing to act now and stop the carnage will forever stain our credibility as representatives of the international community, and fuel endless cycles of violence that will eventually engulf us all.

Thank you.