JERUSALEM, Feb. 9 — Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA), warned Thursday that at least 300,000 people in northern Gaza are on the verge of famine amid continued Israeli siege on the region.
"The UN has identified deep pockets of starvation and hunger in northern Gaza where people are believed to be on the verge of famine. At least 300,000 people living in the area depend on our assistance for their survival," said the UN official in a tweet on X Palestine News and Info agency (WAFA) reported.
Lazzarini added that the last time UNRWA was allowed to deliver food north of Wadi Gaza was on January 23.
"Since the beginning of the year, half of our aid mission requests to the north were denied," he continued.
He asserted, "Preventing access prevents lifesaving humanitarian aid. With the necessary political will, this can be easily reversed."
— Bernama
