Looting, smuggling impede delivery of aid in Gaza: UNRWA

GAZA, June 24 (YPA) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), called on Monday to confront the Israeli occupation’s attempts to end the operations of the UN agency in the Gaza Strip.

According to the Reuters news agency, Lazzarini stressed that the levels of hunger in the Strip are “catastrophic” and man-made.

He said during a meeting of the agency’s advisory committee that “the Israeli occupation has long criticized the agency’s mandate.” But the occupation now seeks to end UNRWA operations by rejecting the agency’s status as a United Nations entity supported by an overwhelming majority of member states.

“If we do not resist, United Nations entities and other international organizations will be the next targets, further undermining our multilateral system,” he added.

In addition, Agence France-Presse quoted Lazzarini as saying that “looting and smuggling are rampant” in the Gaza Strip and “impede” the delivery of humanitarian aid.

He stressed that “the collapse of public order leads to widespread looting and smuggling that hinders the delivery of humanitarian aid that the population so urgently needs.”

AA