UN Palestinian refugee agency reports 29 staff deaths since Israel attacked Gaza
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Gaza: The United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has confirmed the loss of 29 of its personnel in Gaza since October 7, following its prior announcement of 17 casualties on Saturday.
Shock and grief are all over the organisation as they grapple with this significant loss of their colleagues.
The organisation said that half of these individuals were dedicated UNRWA teachers, emphasising the devastating impact on education and the broader community, reported AFP.
Gaza has witnessed an influx of Palestinian civilians taking shelter at UNRWA facilities, as Israel initiated an aerial bombardment campaign in response to attacks by Hamas in Israel, which resulted in the loss of 1,400 lives.
The airstrikes in Gaza have claimed the lives of over 4,600 Palestinians, and the situation has been compounded by Israel's disruption of essential supplies such as fuel, water, food, and electricity to the already impoverished region.
UNRWA's schools, which have served as places of refuge, witnessed the loss of twelve displaced individuals, with nearly 180 people wounded. Additionally, 38 UNRWA installations sustained damage during the conflict.
In a separate statement, UNRWA sounded an alarm about the dwindling fuel supplies in Gaza, indicating that these vital resources would be depleted within three days. This fuel shortage has grave implications, as it threatens the provision of basic necessities like water, the functionality of hospitals, and local bakeries. It also obstructs humanitarian assistance, placing many civilians in a state of urgent need and vulnerability.
While some efforts to transport fuel have been made, as six trucks were able to collect fuel from a terminal at the Rafah crossing point, these measures remain insufficient to meet the daily needs of Gaza's 2.4 million residents.
