GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) prevented UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini from visiting the Gaza Strip, which is currently facing a humanitarian catastrophe due to the ongoing Israeli aggression and blockade.
Lazzarini said he had “intended to go into Rafah today, but was informed my entry had been declined,” speaking in a Cairo joint news conference with Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry on Monday.
“On the day new data is out on famine in Gaza, the Israeli authorities deny my entry to Gaza,” the UNRWA chief later wrote on X.
“Famine is imminent in the northern Gaza Strip, expected to arrive between now and May,” he added.
“The entire population of Gaza is facing crisis levels of food insecurity or worse. Half the population has completely exhausted food supplies and coping capacities. They are struggling with catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 5) and starvation,” he warned.
“UNICEF warned that the number of children under two years old suffering from acute malnutrition has doubled in one month. Children are now dying of dehydration and hunger,” he pointed out.
“My visit today was supposed to coordinate and improve the humanitarian response.”
“This man-made starvation under our watch is a stain on our collective humanity. Too much time was wasted, all land crossings must open now. Famine can be averted with political will,” he underlined.
