As we celebrate World Humanitarian Day this Tuesday, paying tribute to our front-line staff in Gaza, UNRWA General Commissioner Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X.

Many members of our staff were killed in service, hundreds were injured and almost 50 were arrested, several of them even suffered torture before being released, the official wrote on the social network.

We have paid a high price; however, our workers “do not give up despite the hell they experience daily,” he said.

Lazzarini also paid tribute “to the teams in the region that continue to provide services, especially education and primary health care, amid immense challenges and against all forecasts”.

While UNRWA faces existential threats, our groups deserve support, respect and admiration, said the Commissioner-General in reference to the measures taken by the Israeli government against that UN agency.

They are committed to continue their work until a just solution is found to the “plight of the Palestinian refugees”.

It is necessary for this decades-long conflict to finally end by diplomatic and peaceful means, it is time, he said.

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