New York (UN) – Algeria has called for a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) consultation session on January 17 to address the dire circumstances facing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In light of the severity of the crisis, Algeria, in its national capacity, requested a closed-door consultation at 10:00 AM on January 17, 2025. It has also requested UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini to provide a comprehensive briefing to Security Council members.
Lazzarini has previously highlighted the devastating impact of Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, describing it as a “cemetery for tens of thousands of Palestinians” and detailing the catastrophic destruction of essential infrastructure. He emphasized that daily life in Gaza has become a constant struggle marked by forced displacement, disease, hunger, and death for the two million residents trapped in the devastated enclave.
Lazzarini also warned of Israel’s targeted efforts to dismantle UNRWA, emphasizing that “the focus should be on ending the aggression in Gaza, not on dissolving the agency or finding alternatives to it.”
Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The Commissioner-General reported that acute malnutrition levels in Gaza are ten times higher than before the latest Israeli offensive. He revealed that 80% of families have at least one child suffering from hunger, while over 96% of children in Gaza lack access to adequate nutrition.
He condemned Israel’s deliberate destruction of 70% of UNRWA schools, which were sheltering more than 130,000 displaced Palestinian families. This destruction has left over 600,000 children deeply traumatized and deprived of their right to education, as half of them previously studied in UNRWA schools.
Lazzarini stressed that each day without a ceasefire exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. He urged for urgent political intervention to prevent further starvation in the besieged enclave, warning that the harsh winter could result in additional deaths, particularly among vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children.
UNRWA’s Role and Struggles
UNRWA, established by a UN General Assembly resolution in 1949, provides assistance, protection, and advocacy for approximately 5.6 million registered Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza. The agency relies on voluntary contributions from UN member states for its operations.
Israeli Aggression Continues Despite Global Condemnation
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has continued its relentless land, sea, and air offensive on Gaza, defying UNSC resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire and the International Court of Justice’s orders to prevent acts of genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation.
Notably, Algeria holds the presidency of the UN Security Council for January 2025, reinforcing its role in advocating for justice and humanitarian relief.
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Author: Nor-Eleslam
Keyphrase: Algeria UNRWA consultations, Gaza humanitarian crisis, Israeli aggression, UN Security Council presidency, Philippe Lazzarini briefing
