Gaza: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has raised alarms about the increasing civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip as residents attempt to secure food amidst dire humanitarian conditions that have persisted for months.

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, UNRWA issued a statement highlighting that civilians, particularly displaced individuals, are losing their lives while trying to obtain food at aid distribution sites. These locations, intended to offer safety and basic necessities, have instead become perilous.

The agency criticized the Israeli-American aid delivery mechanism, describing it as a “death field” where vulnerable individuals are targeted while waiting in long lines for food. UNRWA stressed that the United Nations and its humanitarian arms, including UNRWA, are best positioned to safely and efficiently deliver aid to those in need. The agency called for a return to dependable humanitarian processes that prioritize civilian safety and protection.

UNRWA also reiterated its urgent plea to halt the targeting of civilians in Gaza and ensure safe, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, free from political conditions or restrictions. The agency warned that continuing current policies exacerbates the humanitarian crisis affecting over two million residents in the besieged region.