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.