The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Press Conferences , Edited News | UNRWA
UNRWA Press conference: Update on the Occupied Palestinian Territory - 25 June 2024
Every day in Gaza 10 children lose one or both legs, says top UN aid official
There’s been no let-up in the terrible human cost of the war in Gaza where 10 children lose one or both legs every day, amid ongoing Israeli bombardment and renewed fears of famine, a top UN aid official said on Tuesday.
“Basically, we have every day 10 children who are losing one leg or two legs on average. This gives you an idea of the scope of the type of childhood, a child can have in Gaza,” said the head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini.
In an update on the situation in the shattered enclave, the UNRWA Commissioner-General noted that some 4,000 children have been reported missing and 17,000 are unaccompanied after nearly nine months of intense hostilities. “Add this to the reported 14,000 children who have been killed since the beginning of the war.” he added, before condemning the latest reported attack on a school run by the UN agency in Gaza City.
“Last night, again, a school has been hit at the level of the Beach (Shati) camp, which is on the northern part of Gaza. And reportedly we have heard about 12 people killed, 22 would have been injured,” he told journalists.
In total, some 190 UNRWA premises have been “hit or damaged or targeted” since the beginning of the war, sparked by Hamas-led terror attacks and hostage-taking in Israel on 7 October. This number “is more than half the premises and the infrastructure that we have in the Gaza Strip,” Mr. Lazzarini said. “And as you know, these premises and these shelters are also used by the population to seek what remains of the possible protection. But more than 500 people so far have been killed while seeking the UN’s protection.”
Responding to the latest report from food insecurity experts at IPC - the leading international authority on hunger emergencies, that more than one in five households “go entire days without eating” – the UNRWA chief said: “You saw the latest IPC (report), one in five persons living in a catastrophic nutritional situation. The acute malnutrition impacts nearly the entire population in Gaza, more than 90 per cent.
“Between those being in emergency and catastrophic situation - and catastrophic means risk of famine is here at any time between now and September - we have in total more than one million people.”
Mr. Lazzarini also echoed growing concerns among humanitarians about ongoing aid obstacles that have prevented UN relief teams from reaching Gaza’s most vulnerable people. “We work with contractors and if they see that their trucks might be looted or torched and the drivers beaten up, they are going to think twice about making their trucks available and yes, this is exactly the problem we have.”
The UNRWA chief also insisted on the need for accountability for attacks on UN facilities and all humanitarian personnel, which contravene international humanitarian law.
“We cannot say that all the strikes came from the Israeli army - the vast majority did, but all of them? Certainly not - or I don't know - and that is the reason why I have asked several times that when it concerns UN facilities, UN personnel, UN facilities, UN operations or the humanitarian community in general, there is a need for a commission of inquiry once conditions are in place. We need to be sure about what happened.”
ends
STORY: Gaza update – Lazzarini UNRWA Occupied Palestinian Territory
SOURCE: UNTV CH
LENGTH: 3’3(”
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
DATELINE: 25 JUNE 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
1. Exterior medium-wide, UN Geneva flag alley.
2. Wide, podium speakers and journalists.
3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA): “The figures are quite staggering there, they are talking about 4,000 children missing and 17,000 being unaccompanied, so more than 20,000. And you add this to the reported 14,000 children who have been killed since the beginning of the war.”
4. Medium-wide of the Press room with journalists.
5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA): “Basically, we have every day 10 children who are losing one leg or two legs on average. This gives you an idea of the scope of the type of childhood, a child can have in Gaza.”
6. Medium, photographer preparing to take shot.
7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA): “You saw the latest IPC (food insecurity report), one in five persons living in a catastrophic nutritional situation. The acute malnutrition impacts, nearly the entire population in Gaza, more than 90 per cent. And between those being in emergency and catastrophic situation - and catastrophic means risk of famine is here at any time between now and September - we have in total more than one million people.”
8. Medium-wide, rear of podium, journalists and wider Press room.
9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA): “Last night, again, a school has been hit at the level of the Beach (Shati) camp, which is on the northern part of Gaza. And reportedly we have heard about 12 people killed, 22 would have been injured.
10. Medium-wide, Press room.
11. SOUNDBITE (English) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA): “This brings also the total of premises which have been hit or damaged or targeted since the beginning of the war to 190, which is more than half the premises and the infrastructure that we have in the Gaza Strip. And as you know, these premises and these shelters are also used by the population to seek what remains of the possible protection. But more than 500 people so far have been killed while seeking the UN’s protection.”
12. Medium, journalist taking video on mobile phone.
13. SOUNDBITE (French) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA): « On travaille avec des contracteurs et si effectivement les contracteurs voient que le camion pouvait être à risque d’être saccagé ou brûlé et que les chauffeurs sont, comment dire, tabassés, ils vont hésiter à remettre leurs camions à disposition, et effectivement nous avons ce genre de problème. »
14. Wide, Press room.
15. SOUNDBITE (French) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA): « On ne peut pas vous dire que toutes les frappes viennent de l’armée israélienne, en grande majorité oui, toutes, certainement pas ou je ne sais pas et c’est la raison pour laquelle j’ai demandé plusieurs fois que lorsqu’il s’agit des installations des Nations Unies, du personnel des Nations Unies, des installations des Nations Unies, des opérations des Nations Unies ou de la communauté humanitaire en générale, on a besoin d’une commission d’enquête une fois que les conditions seront en place. On doit déterminer ce qui s’est passé. »
16. Medium-wide rear shot, podium speakers, Press room.
17. Medium-wide, Press room.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The appointment on Thursday of Karla Quintana as head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic is a key development after nearly a year and a half of work by the UN Human Rights Office supporting the institution’s launch.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM , UNICEF , UNRWA , WHO
The head of the UN migration agency stressed on Friday that Syria is in no position to take back millions of Syrians following the fall of the Assad regime, while there is an urgent need to “re-evaluate” sanctions impacting the war-ravaged country.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNHCR , WHO , UNICEF , UNRWA , OHCHR
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the Director-General of the International Organization for Migration, representatives and spokespersons of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Human Rights, the United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the International Labour Organization.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IOM
Amy Pope, IOM Director General, briefs the Geneva press corps on her recent mission to Syria.
1
1
1
Edited News | IIIM , UNHCR
Syria: ‘Key priority’ is to preserve evidence of crimes – UN investigators
In Syria, new access to evidence of horrific human rights violations means that accountability may be closer than ever – if only proof can be preserved, a top UN investigator said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | FAO , UNHCR , WHO , WOAH
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism Investigating Serious Crimes in Syria, representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Meteorological Organization.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IIIM
Robert Petit, Head of IIIM: opportunities and challenges for justice in Syria in the wake of current events.
1
1
1
Edited News | OSE , ICRC , UNHCR
Syria: UN and partners urge action to preserve evidence of prison atrocities, stabilize country
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria five days ago, hundreds of people have rushed to Saydnaya prison, desperate to find loved ones. Disturbing images from the prison and other detention centers have since surfaced, exposing the “unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured for years,” said Jenifer Fenton, spokesperson for the UN special envoy for Syria, on Friday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OSE , UNHCR , ICRC , UNRWA , HRC , ILO , WHO
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization, the Human Rights Council, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
1
1
2
Edited News | UNRWA
Gaza: “Sickening normalisation” of suffering, amid attacks on people and aid convoys
Ongoing military operations by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in Gaza continue to devastate Palestinian children and families, with mounting casualties and a critical lack of humanitarian aid for the desperate population.
“Local media reporting here that last night, 30 people were killed in this area in strikes” said a senior emergency officer with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Louise Wateridge, speaking to reporters in Geneva from central Gaza.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | OHCHR
Rights experts call for end to impunity for Israel’s violations of international law
Four independent human rights experts have jointly called for the international community to sanction Israel’s conduct of hostilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as well as in the wider Middle East region - including in Syria, Lebanon and Iran. They also called for the restoration of trust in the international justice system through the abandonment of “extreme interpretations” and “double standards” in the application of the universal norms regulating the conduct of war.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNHCR
Syria: needs continue to grow amid highly uncertain situation, say aid teams
The historic power shift in Syria and the still volatile situation two days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime have increased humanitarian needs in a country where nearly 17 million people, including millions of internally displaced, already depended on humanitarian aid before the recent events, UN aid teams said on Tuesday.