UNRWA – Press conference: Philippe Lazzarini
/
44:20
/
MP4
/
2.6 GB

Edited News , Press Conferences | UNRWA

UNRWA – Press conference: Philippe Lazzarini

Gaza: more aid needed urgently to prevent a worsening famine trend, says UNRWA chief
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) warns that much more assistance to Palestinians in Gaza is necessary to prevent a worsening famine trend, despite some recent improvements in the flow of aid.
“We believe that that much more needs to be done. It is true that there have been more supply entering during the months of April, but this is still far from enough to reverse the negative trend we have seen,” said UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Mr. Lazzarini described the efforts to combat hunger as "a race against the clock," particularly in northern Gaza. He noted that although food is available in local markets, accessibility remains a challenge due to the lack of circulating cash in the region.
Mr. Lazzarini also addressed ongoing concerns about the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody, stressing the need for their unconditional and immediate release.
“Hostages are still in captivity with the Hamas and that […] the Secretary-General, [me and] other UN officials keep asking for the unconditional and immediate release of the hostages,” Mr. Lazzarini said. “But I have also shared our deep concern regarding the Gazans detained by Israeli security forces,” he added.
According to testimonies received by UNRWA,Palestinian detainees often face severe mistreatment. “People have told us that they are routinely rounded up when they were arrested, […] stripped to the underwear and loaded into trucks, blindfolded and bombed,” Mr. Lazzarini reported. “Most of the time, once arrested, these detainees remain incommunicado and they are subjected to shocking, inhuman treatment. Among the inhuman treatment they have described to us waterboarding, severe beatings, attacked by dogs,” he added.
The fear of an Israeli attack into Rafah, the southern part of the Gaza strip, adds to the constant state of trauma among the people there, Mr. Lazzarini reported.
Regarding UNRWA's funding crisis, Mr. Lazzarini revealed that sixteen countries suspended contributions to the agency, but most have since resumed their support. “Up to sixteen countries suspended the contribution to the Agency (UNRWA). The good news is that, as of today, most of the donor countries have resumed their contribution to the Agency. We just have a handful of countries who still need to take a decision. We know that the main contributor, the US, has indicated that they will not be able to support the Agency before March 2025,” Mr. Lazzarini said.
Despite challenges, UNRWA has secured USD 115 million in private funding and received contributions from previously non-contributing countries, ensuring its humanitarian operations can continue until June.
Following allegations against some UNRWA staff in the Hamas attack of 7 October, some donor countries withheld funds from the agency. However, an independent review led by the former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, to assess whether UNRWA is doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality, found UNRWA’s procedures to be robust.
UNRWA remains the largest humanitarian organization in besieged Gaza, providing the backbone to aid operations in the enclave, where over 34,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, according to authorities. The Commissioner-General asserted that if the political will exists to reactivate and pursue a two-state solution, UNRWA could once again regain its vocation as a temporary aid agency. In such a context, the agency could also play a vital role in the transition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, he said.
“If really today there is a genuine commitment to reactivate and bring back the two-state solution on the table, the agency can retrieve its temporary nature and supporting the transition leading to the two- state solution, the transition leading to the day after,” Mr. Lazzarini said.
-ends-

STORY: Update situation in the OPT - UNRWA

TRT: 2:41”

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 30 April 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

  1. Exterior med shot: UN flag alley
  2. Wide shot: Speaker at the podium during press conference with journalists
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, UNRWA: “We believe that that much more needs to be done. It is true that there have been more supply entering during the months of April, but this is still far from enough to reverse the negative trend we have seen.”
  4. Wide shot: Speakers at the podium, with photographers and journalists in the room
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, UNRWA: “Hostages are still in captivity with the Hamas and that both, the Secretary-General, myself but other UN officials keep asking for the unconditional and immediate release of the hostages. But I have also shared this morning our deep concern regarding the Gazans detained by Israeli security forces.”
  6. Med shot: speakers at the podium with journalists in room
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, UNRWA: “People have told us that they are routinely rounded up when they were arrested, they were routinely rounded up, stripped to the underwear and loaded into trucks, blindfolded and bombed. Most of the time, once arrested, these detainees, remain incommunicado and they are subjected to shocking, inhuman treatment. Among the inhuman treatment they have described to us waterboarding, severe beatings, attacked by dogs.”
  8. Med shot: Journalists in the press room
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, UNRWA: “Up to sixteen countries suspended the contribution to the Agency (UNRWA). The good news is that, as of today, most of the donor countries have resumed their contribution to the Agency. We just have a hand full of country who still need to take a decision. We know that the main contributor, the US, has indicated that they will not be able to support the Agency before March 2025.”
  10. Med shot, journalist listening in press briefing
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) – Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, UNRWA: “If really today there is a genuine commitment to reactivate and bring back the two- state solution on the table, the Agency can retrieve its temporary nature and supporting the transition leading to the two- state solution, the transition leading to the day after.”
  12. Med shot, cameraman filming with speaker on screen
  13. Wide shot, cameramen filming with journalist listening


Documents 1
Download Storyline
Download

Audio Files 2
Download UNRWA – Press conference: Philippe Lazzarini (Continuity)
Download
Download Update on the situation in the OPT - UNRWA Commissioner General 30 April 2024
Download

Similar Stories

UNECE Press conference: Ministerial Meeting on Housing Affordability and Sustainability - 08 October 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNECE

UNECE Press conference: Ministerial Meeting on Housing Affordability and Sustainability - 08 October 2025 ENG FRA

UNECE Press conference on the Ministerial Meeting on Housing Affordability and Sustainablility

On 8 October 2025, UNECE member States' ministers meet to focus on the urgent challenges and strategic priorities surrounding housing affordability and sustainability in the UNECE region. Ten years after the adoption of the Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing, ministers will highlight challenges and key priorities for the achievement of the Charter's objectives, and present good practice and strategic solutions in this regard.  As the key outcome of the meeting, ministers will be invited to agree on practical commitments towards sustainable and affordable housing.

The meeting will take place as part of the eighty-sixth session of the UNECE Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management (8–10 October 2025).

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WHO

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO ENG FRA

Two years of Gaza-Israel war bring ‘indescribable’ pain: UN humanitarians

Two years since the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel, UN humanitarians on Tuesday reiterated calls for the release of all hostages in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire and an aid surge to alleviate Palestinians’ suffering, as talks on a US-driven peace plan continued in Egypt.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 07 October 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OCHA , UNHCR , UNICEF , UNOG , WHO , IPU

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 07 October 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNICEF, the World Health Organisation, and the International Parliamentary Union.

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025 ENG FRA

Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end”

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end” ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC ENG FRA

Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital 

UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 03 October 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNHCR , UNICEF , UNIS , WHO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 03 October 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

HRC 60 Press conference: Human Rights situation in the Central African Republic - 02 October 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | HRC , OHCHR

HRC 60 Press conference: Human Rights situation in the Central African Republic - 02 October 2025 ENG FRA

Report of the Independent Expert on Human Rights situation in the Central African Republic.

 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti

2

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.

The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: As world waits for US peace plan news, UN aid teams stress need for ceasefire

UN agencies reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday to help alleviate Palestinian suffering, as a new US 20-point plan raised hopes of a halt to the fighting.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 30 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNECE , WHO , OCHA , UNHCR , UNICEF

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 30 September 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (the UN Refugee Agency), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Children Fund, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the World Health Organization.

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO ENG FRA

The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm the war-torn enclave’s medical professionals, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone, the UN World Health Organization said on Friday.