{"id":290381,"date":"2023-10-15T15:00:46","date_gmt":"2023-10-15T19:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=290381"},"modified":"2023-11-01T15:02:15","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T19:02:15","slug":"unrwa-cimississioner-general-philippe-lazzarini-remarks-on-the-situation-in-the-gaza-strip","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/unrwa-cimississioner-general-philippe-lazzarini-remarks-on-the-situation-in-the-gaza-strip\/","title":{"rendered":"Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA Cimississioner-General Philippe Lazzarini Remarks on the Situation in the Gaza Strip"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA HEADQUARTERS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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EAST JERUSALEM, 15 October 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

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(<\/span>C<\/span>heck<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0against delivery)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Good evening to all, many thanks for being here tonight.<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I<\/span>\u00a0have<\/span>\u00a0called for this press conference to\u00a0<\/span>raise the alarm\u00a0<\/span>that as of today, my Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA colleagues in Gaza are no longer able to\u00a0<\/span>provide<\/span>\u00a0humanitarian\u00a0<\/span>assistance<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As I speak with you<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0Gaza is running out o<\/span>f<\/span>\u00a0water and electricity<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In fact,\u00a0<\/span>Gaza is being strangled<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>it seems that the world<\/span>\u00a0right now has lost its humanity<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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If we look at the issue of water \u2013 we all know w<\/span>ater is life<\/span>\u00a0–<\/span>\u00a0Gaza is running out of water<\/span>, and G<\/span>aza is running out of life.<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Soon<\/span>, I believe<\/span>, with this<\/span>\u00a0there will be no\u00a0<\/span>f<\/span>ood or medicine either.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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There is n<\/span>ot one drop of water, not one grain of wheat, not a\u00a0<\/span>litr<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0of fuel\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>has been allowed into the Gaza Strip for\u00a0<\/span>the last\u00a0<\/span>eight days<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The number of people seeking shelter in our schools and other\u00a0<\/span>Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA\u00a0<\/span>facilities in the south<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>absolutely\u00a0<\/span>overwhelming<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>and we do not have\u00a0<\/span>any more<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>capacity<\/span>\u00a0to deal with them<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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My team<\/span>, who relocated to Rafah to sustain operations following the Israeli ultimatum, is working in the same building as thousands of desperate displaced people rationing also their food and water.<\/p>\n

In fact, a<\/span>n unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding\u00a0<\/span>under<\/span>\u00a0our eyes.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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And\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>lready<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 and<\/span>\u00a0we should always remember that<\/span>\u00a0–<\/span>\u00a0before th<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0war<\/span>, G<\/span>aza was under\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>blockad<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0for 16 years,\u00a0<\/span>and basically, more<\/span>\u00a0than 60 per cent of the population was already relying on international food assistanc<\/span>e<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0It was\u00a0<\/span>already before the war\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>humanitarian\u00a0<\/span>welfare society<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Every hour<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0we receive\u00a0<\/span>more and more<\/span>\u00a0desperate calls for help from people across the\u00a0<\/span>Strip. \u202f\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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We<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0as\u00a0<\/span>Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0ha<\/span>ve\u00a0<\/span>already lost\u00a0<\/span>14<\/span>\u00a0s<\/span>taff members<\/span>. They were teacher<\/span>s<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>engineers<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0guards<\/span>\u00a0and psychologist<\/span>s<\/span>, an\u00a0<\/span>engineer<\/span>\u00a0and a\u00a0<\/span>gynecologist<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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M<\/span>ost of\u00a0<\/span>our<\/span>\u00a013,000\u00a0<\/span>Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA\u00a0<\/span>staff\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Gaza<\/span>\u00a0Strip<\/span>\u00a0are now displaced\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0<\/span>out of their homes.<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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My colleague Kamal lost his\u00a0<\/span>cousin\u00a0<\/span>and her entire family.<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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My colleague Helen and her children were pulled out of the rubble. I was so relieved to\u00a0<\/span>learn<\/span>\u00a0that\u00a0<\/span>they were\u00a0<\/span>still\u00a0<\/span>alive.<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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My colleague Inas\u00a0<\/span>fears that Gaza<\/span>\u00a0will\u00a0<\/span>no longer<\/span>\u00a0exist<\/span>.<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Every story coming out of Gaza is about\u00a0<\/span>survival<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>despair<\/span>\u00a0and loss.<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Thousands of people have been killed<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0including children and women.\u00a0<\/span>\u202fGaza is\u00a0<\/span>now even\u00a0<\/span>running out of body bags.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Entire families are being ripped apart.\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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At least 1 million people were forced to flee their homes in one week alone.<\/span>\u00a0A<\/span>\u00a0river of people continues to flow south.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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No place is safe in Gaza.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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At least 400,000 displaced (persons) are now in Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA schools and buildings, and most are not equipped as emergency shelters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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S<\/span>anitary conditions are\u00a0<\/span>just\u00a0<\/span>appalling<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>and we have reports<\/span>\u00a0in our\u00a0<\/span>log<\/span>istics<\/span>\u00a0base<\/span>, for example,\u00a0<\/span>where\u00a0<\/span>h<\/span>undreds of people are\u00a0<\/span>just\u00a0<\/span>sharing\u00a0<\/span>one<\/span>\u00a0toilet<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Old people, children, pregnant women, people with disabilities are\u00a0<\/span>just\u00a0<\/span>being deprived\u00a0<\/span>of<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>ir\u00a0<\/span>basic<\/span>\u00a0human dignity<\/span>, and this is a total disgrace!\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Unless we bring\u00a0<\/span>now<\/span>\u00a0supplies into Gaza,\u00a0<\/span>Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA<\/span>\u00a0and aid workers<\/span>\u00a0will\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0be able to continue\u00a0<\/span>humanitarian<\/span>\u00a0operations.\u00a0<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA operations is<\/span>\u00a0the largest\u00a0<\/span>U<\/span>nited<\/span>\u00a0Nations\u00a0<\/span>footprint\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Gaza\u00a0<\/span>Strip<\/span>, and we<\/span>\u00a0are on the verge\u00a0<\/span>of collapse<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>absolutely\u00a0<\/span>unprecedented<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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We keep\u00a0<\/span>reminding<\/span>\u00a0that\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>nternational\u00a0<\/span>H<\/span>umanitarian\u00a0<\/span>L<\/span>aw<\/span>\u00a0has now<\/span>\u00a0to be\u00a0<\/span>at the center of our concerns.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Wars, all wars, even this war, have laws.\u00a0<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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International humanitarian law is the law of\u00a0<\/span>any\u00a0<\/span>armed conflict.\u00a0<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It explicitly sets the\u00a0<\/span>minimum<\/span>\u00a0standards that must prevail at\u00a0<\/span>any<\/span>, any<\/span>\u00a0time.\u00a0<\/span>\u202f\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The protection of the wounded and civilians, including humanitarian workers<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0is<\/span>\u00a0non-negotiable under humanitarian law.<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Last week\u2019s attack on Israel was horrendous \u2013 devastating images and testimonies continue to come out. \u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The attack and the taking of hostages are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. \u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u202fBut the answer to killing civilians cannot be to kill more civilians.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Imposing a siege and bombarding civilian infrastructure in a densely populated area will not bring peace and security to the region.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The sieg<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0in Gaza, the way it is imp<\/span>osed<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0is<\/span>\u00a0not<\/span>h<\/span>ing\u00a0<\/span>else<\/span>\u00a0than collective pu<\/span>nishment.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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So, before it<\/span>\u00a0is<\/span>\u00a0too late<\/span>, the siege must be lifted and\u00a0<\/span>aid agencies must be able to safely bring in essential supplies such as fuel<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>water<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0food<\/span>\u00a0and medicine<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>And we need this NOW.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Over the last few da<\/span>y<\/span>s<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0we have advocated for fuel to come in<\/span>\u00a0because we need fuel for the water station and the desalination plant in the south of Gaza.\u00a0<\/span>Unfortunate<\/span>ly,<\/span>\u00a0we still have no fuel.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A<\/span>ll parties must\u00a0<\/span>facilitate<\/span>\u00a0a humanitarian corridor<\/span>\u00a0so we can reach all those in need of support<\/span>. \u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA<\/span>\u00a0and aid agencies<\/span>\u00a0must be able to do their work and save lives. And we must do so safely, without risking our own lives.<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Finally, we are also calling for a<\/span>\u00a0suspension of hostilities\u00a0<\/span>for humanitarian reasons<\/span>, and this needs to take place\u00a0<\/span>without\u00a0<\/span>any\u00a0<\/span>delay\u00a0<\/span>if we want\u00a0<\/span>to spare loss of more lives.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Thank you.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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ENDs-\u202f<\/span>\u202f\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA HEADQUARTERS EAST JERUSALEM, 15 October 2023 (Checked\u00a0against delivery) Good evening to all, many thanks for being here tonight.\u202f I\u00a0have\u00a0called for this press conference to\u00a0raise the alarm\u00a0that as of today, my Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA colleagues in Gaza are no longer able to\u00a0provide\u00a0humanitarian\u00a0assistance. As I speak with you,\u00a0Gaza is running out of\u00a0water and electricity. In fact,\u00a0Gaza is being […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":301,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[1338],"document-source":[1817],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1769,5449,1829,2033,2057,2005,2533,5200,2613,6845,1745,2729],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[],"class_list":["post-290381","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-statement","document-source-united-nations-relief-and-works-agency-for-palestine-refugees-in-the-near-east-unrwa","document-subject-armed-conflict","document-subject-assistance-to-the-palestinian-people","document-subject-casualties","document-subject-children","document-subject-food","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-health","document-subject-humanitarian-relief","document-subject-internally-displaced-persons","document-subject-protection-of-civilians","document-subject-refugees-and-displaced-persons","document-subject-shelter","entity-united-nations-system"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/290381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/301"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/290381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":290382,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/290381\/revisions\/290382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=290381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=290381"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=290381"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=290381"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=290381"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=290381"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=290381"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=290381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}