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Dear colleagues,
We have reached a tragic and devastating milestone that I was hoping we would never cross.
Since the war began in October 2023, we have lost 202 UNRWA colleagues, all killed in Gaza.
May they rest in peace.
They were teachers, doctors, nurses, social workers, engineers, support staff, logisticians, and technology and communications workers.
They were dedicated to serving their communities.
Most of our colleagues were killed with their families at home or in a place they thought would be safe.
Several were killed in the line of duty while providing humanitarian assistance to communities in need.
The Agency will never be the same without them.
We mourn them, cherish them, and remember them.
This tragic milestone is testament - once again- that no place and no one is safe in Gaza.
This death toll represents by far the largest number of personnel killed in a single conflict since the creation of the United Nations in 1945.
I echo the call from the Secretary General: the UN will spare no effort to demand accountability for the deaths of our staff.
Over the coming weeks, we will find several occasions to mark this somber memory of our fallen colleagues.
My senior management team and I will share the details.
In closing, please allow me to send my heartfelt condolences and sympathy to all of you.
May we continue with courage and determination to fulfill our shared commitments towards all Palestine Refugees.
Thank you,
Philippe Lazzarini
Background Information:
UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency’s area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.
UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.
UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.
Your support is crucial to help us provide emergency aidto displaced families in Gaza
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