Gaza: The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has issued a stark warning regarding the dire situation in the Gaza Strip, where the distribution of humanitarian aid has become perilous amid ongoing Israeli military actions.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Lazzarini, in a statement on Monday, urged Israel to lift its blockade and allow the safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid under UN supervision to avert a potential famine. He highlighted the severe consequences of the current situation, pointing to reports from international medics about the recent deaths and injuries of numerous civilians due to Israeli forces’ actions.

Lazzarini criticized the existing Israeli aid distribution plan, which mandates that aid delivery occur at the southern point of Rafah. This arrangement forces thousands of starving civilians to travel extensive distances to an area heavily damaged by Israeli bombardments. He described this system as “humiliating,” suggesting it exacerbates the suffering rather than alleviating it.

Furthermore, Lazzarini called for the international media to have access to Gaza to provide independent reporting on the situation. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs also emphasized that the current military-style distribution plan is inadequate given the immense needs in Gaza. The agency described the Gaza Strip as “the hungriest place on earth,” attributing this to Israel’s restrictions on aid entry, allowing only minimal supplies into the region.