The escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas has killed a record number of UN workers since the beginning of October, namely the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). This follows a joint statement by the organization's humanitarian heads.
“Dozens of aid workers have been killed since October 7, including 88 UNRWA staff — the highest number of UN personnel killed ever recorded in a single conflict. «, the publication says.
According to Israeli authorities, about 1,400 people were killed in the country, and thousands more were injured. In addition, more than 200 people, including children, were taken hostage. In the Gaza Strip, almost 9,500 people were killed, including 3,900 children, and more than 23,000 people were injured, the local Ministry of Health reports.
The heads of the Interdepartmental Standing Committee on the Situation in Israel and the Palestinian Territories called for the release of civilians residents from hostages, protecting civilian infrastructure and supplying Gazans with essential food, medicine and fuel.
The statement was signed by UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, Deputy Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women Sima Bakhous, Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Catherine Russell, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and 14 other representatives of various UN agencies.
They concluded: “We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. 30 days have passed. Enough means enough. This must stop now.»