UNRWA says half its facilities in Gaza have been destroyed during war

Damaged headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza City on February 15, 2024, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. (AFP)
Damaged headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza City on February 15, 2024, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. (AFP)

The head of the main UN agency providing aid to Gaza says half its facilities in the territory have been destroyed since the war began. Philippe Lazzarini also said more than 500 people have been killed in those attacks, including employees and displaced people sheltering there.

The commissioner-general of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees spoke at a news conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelaty, who reiterated Egypt’s support for the agency, known as UNRWA.

Israel has accused UNRWA of turning a blind eye or collaborating with Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, and of perpetuating the decades-old Palestinian refugee crisis, accusations the agency denies.

His comments came as the IDF announced it was operating at UNRWA headquarters, located near the Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City, where the IDF previously found significant Hamas tunnel infrastructure and killed and captured numerous gunmen.

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