City, July 14 — The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has condemned the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, declaring the besieged enclave a “graveyard of children and starving people.” His remarks follow the deaths of nearly 800 Palestinians at or near aid distribution centres since late May, according to UN and medical sources.
In a post on social media, Lazzarini warned that Palestinians face a harrowing choice: “starvation or being shot at.” He described the situation as “the most cruel and Machiavellian scheme to kill, in total impunity,” and called out global inaction as complicity.
Aid Centres Become Flashpoints
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial aid initiative backed by the U.S. and Israel, has replaced much of the UN-led distribution network. Since its launch, 615 people have been killed near GHF sites, with another 183 fatalities reported along aid convoy routes. Witnesses and rights groups allege that Israeli soldiers and U.S. contractors have opened fire on unarmed civilians seeking food.
On Thursday alone, 15 civilians—including nine children and four women—were killed while waiting for nutritional supplements in Deir el-Balah. Another 11 people died near a GHF-run centre in Rafah, according to medical sources.
Humanitarian Collapse
The UN Human Rights Office has described the situation as “unacceptable,” warning of atrocity crimes and urging immediate international intervention. The World Food Programme’s deputy director, Carl Skau, said Gaza’s conditions are “the worst he has ever seen,” with lifesaving supplies stranded on thousands of trucks awaiting entry.
UNRWA reports that only four distribution points remain operational for Gaza’s 2.1 million residents, down from over 400 before the war. This drastic reduction has pushed civilians into overcrowded zones with limited access to food, water, and medical care.
International Alarm and Calls for Action
The crisis has prompted calls from over 170 NGOs to dismantle the GHF and restore UN-led aid operations. Lazzarini urged world leaders to “lift the siege, release the hostages, and allow humanitarian agencies to do their work,” warning that “our norms and values are being buried in Gaza”.
As the death toll climbs and aid centres become sites of tragedy, the UN chief’s words serve as a stark indictment of the global response: “Inaction will bring more chaos. Time to act is overdue”.
UNRWA Chief: Gaza Has Become “Graveyard of Children and Starving People” Amid Aid Centre KillingsGaza
