ISTANBUL

The UN refugee agency said Sunday that the year 2023 brought devastation and tragedy to Palestinian refugees.

“The past year brought profound devastation and tragedy to Palestine Refugees facing war, extreme violence, displacement and poverty,” the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) said in a statement.

“UNRWA remained committed to serve in the darkest circumstances, with unfailing dedication from our heroic colleagues,” it added.

Israel launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 21,822 Palestinians have since been killed and 56,451 others injured, according to Gaza’s health authorities, while nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli onslaught has left Gaza in ruins, with 60% of the enclave's infrastructure damaged or destroyed, and nearly 2 million residents displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine.