DaysofPal- The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has sharply criticized the use of airdropped humanitarian aid in Gaza, warning that such efforts are not only ineffective but could endanger the very civilians they aim to help.
Lazzarini described airdrops as a “distraction and smokescreen,” emphasizing that they are costly, inefficient, and may result in injuries or deaths among starving Palestinians gathering to collect supplies.
He urged the immediate reopening of land-based crossings to allow for faster, safer, and more dignified delivery of aid.
“Thousands of trucks loaded with vital supplies remain stuck in neighboring countries, awaiting Israeli authorization to enter Gaza,” Lazzarini said.
“Until the borders are opened, airdrops alone cannot meet the urgent needs of over two million people facing severe famine.” He added.
The UNRWA chief’s warnings come amid mounting evidence of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Since the outbreak of Israeli genocide in October 2023, more than 120 Palestinians, including many children, have reportedly died from starvation and malnutrition, with numbers rising sharply this month.
Moreover, international aid agencies continue to call for a lifting of the blockade to enable sustained and effective aid delivery on the ground.
Lazzarini stressed that only through safe land access can the deepening hunger and suffering in Gaza be meaningfully addressed.
As the crisis intensifies, the call to end the siege and allow humanitarian corridors remains critical to saving lives and restoring hope for millions in Gaza, who have been suffering famine and genocide at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces for 22 months so far.
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