The scenes coming out of Rafah last night are harrowing – UNRWA Commissioner-General

27 May 2024

From Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA Commissioner-General as posted on his official X account (previously known as Twitter)

Reports of more casualties continue to come in following an Israeli airstrike on a heavily populated area northwest of Rafah.

Children and women living in tented plastic makeshift shelters are among the killed. Many were injured. Others were reportedly burnt to death.

The images from last night are testament to how Rafah has turned into hell on earth.

It has been extremely difficult to establish contact with our @UNRWA teams in Rafah today. Some of our staff are unaccounted for.

UNRWA is doing everything possible not to interrupt the delivery of humanitarian assistance. But with every day passing, providing assistance & protection becomes nearly impossible.

Of the 200 trucks with humanitarian supplies offloaded on the Palestinian side yesterday, only 30 trucks were picked up due to heavy movement restrictions + ongoing Israeli Forces airstrikes + the launch of rockets by Hamas + delays & limitations on the routes that can be used.

These are all additional challenges & restrictions that do not allow us to distribute aid. They further strangle the humanitarian operation on which 2 million people across Gaza depend.

I reiterate the call of the @UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres for an immediate #ceasefire + for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages to end the suffering of civilians.

I echo his dismay by the lack of implementation of the recent order of the International Court of Justice regarding Rafah. The decisions of the @CIJ_ICJ Court are binding.

The military operation in Rafah must immediately end & the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza must improve without further delay.