Geneva: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has reported the deaths of five more of its staff members in Gaza over recent days, bringing the total number of UNRWA personnel killed since the conflict began to 284.
“In the past few days, another five UNRWA staff have been confirmed killed, bringing the death toll to 284. They were teachers, doctors, and nurses: serving the most vulnerable,” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.
#Gaza: Israeli Forces bombardment continues from air & sea for the third day.
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) March 20, 2025
We are fearing that the worst is yet to come given the ongoing ground invasion separating the north from the south.
Evacuation orders forcing people to flee were issued impacting tens of thousands of…
The mounting casualties among humanitarian workers have intensified concerns over the worsening situation in Gaza. On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned attacks on UN personnel, following the death of a United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) staff member when two UN guesthouses in Deir al-Balah were struck.
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In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Guterres emphasized that all parties involved in Israel’s offensive on Gaza were aware of the locations of UN premises, underscoring the necessity of protecting humanitarian workers and facilities.
The escalating violence continues to claim the lives of aid workers, raising fears that the worst is yet to come for civilians and humanitarian operations in the region.
