Gaza airdrops will not reverse deepening starvation, says UNRWA chief

ISTANBUL

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on Saturday called proposed humanitarian airdrops over the Gaza Strip a “distraction” and “screensmoke” aimed at diverting attention from the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave.

Philippe Lazzarini made the remarks in response to a Western media report claiming that Israel would allow airdrops by Western countries for two days starting Friday.

No airdrops, however, have been observed until now.

“Airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation. They are expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians,” the UNRWA commissioner-general said.

“Driving aid through is much easier, more effective, faster, cheaper, and safer. It’s more dignified for the people of Gaza.”

“A manmade hunger can only be addressed by political will. Lift the siege, open the gates and guarantee safe movements and dignified access to people in need,” Lazzarini continued.

“At UNRWA, we have the equivalent of 6,000 trucks in Jordan and Egypt waiting for the green light to get into Gaza,” he added.

On Saturday, Gaza’s Health Ministry said five more Palestinians, including two children, died from hunger and malnutrition in the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll since October 2023 to 127, including 85 children.

Gaza’s government media office warned of a mass-death risk threatening over 100,000 children under the age of 2 due to the depletion of milk and nutritional supplements amid Israel’s ongoing blockade.

UN and local organizations have warned that continued Israeli restrictions on aid access could lead to widespread child fatalities amid a complete collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system.

Since March 2, Israel has closed all border crossings with Gaza, blocking hundreds of trucks and worsening humanitarian conditions in the enclave.

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 59,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.