Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has warned that hunger is now claiming lives in the Gaza Strip, urging the immediate and unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged population.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday, Lazzarini criticized ongoing restrictions imposed by Israel, saying: “After five months of continuous attempts to replace the coordinated UN response with four Israeli military distribution points, hunger has become the newest killer in Gaza.”

According to Lazzarini, UNRWA-supported community distribution centers, in cooperation with partner organizations, had been delivering food and humanitarian supplies to nearly two million people before famine conditions spread across the territory.

The UNRWA chief called for urgent action to restore safe and dignified access for aid agencies: “It is time to deliver aid safely, without obstacles, and with dignity.”

Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned of worsening food insecurity in Gaza, where the ongoing Israeli military campaign and blockade have devastated civilian infrastructure, disrupted food supply chains, and left the majority of the population dependent on emergency relief. (ILKHA)