Israeli authorities deny entry to Gaza for UNRWA chief

(Patria) - The head of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, announced today that Israeli authorities have denied him entry into Gaza.

Lazzarini stated that he is trying to access the enclave to "coordinate and improve the humanitarian response." Israel has yet to respond to these claims, reports RSE.

In a post on social network X, he drew attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, stating that famine is inevitable in the northern Gaza Strip and that starvation is a collective stain on humanity.

"Famine is imminent in the northern Gaza Strip, expected to arrive between now and May. Two million people = the entire population of Gaza is facing crisis levels of food insecurity or worse. Half of the population has completely depleted food supplies and survival capacities.

They are struggling with catastrophic hunger. This is the largest number of people ever recorded facing catastrophic hunger, and UNICEF has previously warned that the number of children under two years old suffering from acute malnutrition has doubled in a month. Children are now dying of dehydration and starvation," Lazzarini stated.

On the day new data is out on famine in #GAZA, the Israeli Authorities deny my entry to Gaza.

-Famine is imminent in the northern Gaza Strip, expected to arrive between now and May.
- Two million people= the entire population of Gaza is facing crisis levels of food insecurity…

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) March 18, 2024

UNRWA, according to Lazzarini, has by far the largest presence among all humanitarian organizations in Gaza, and his visit was intended to coordinate and improve the humanitarian response.

"This man-made starvation is a stain on our collective humanity. Too much time has been lost, all land crossings must be opened now. Famine can be prevented with political will," Lazzarini urged.

Relations between Israel and UNRWA have hit rock bottom following allegations by the Israeli government that 13 agency members had a direct or indirect role in Hamas's October 7 attacks.

A number of countries have suspended funding for UNRWA following these claims, while the UN has launched an investigation.

The Israeli army launched an offensive in Gaza after armed Hamas members killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7 and took 253 people hostage. The Gaza Ministry of Health says that more than 31,300 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since then.