UNRWA Chief Warns of Man-made Famine

UNRWA Chief Philippe Lazzarini has warned of a man-made famine in Gaza due to the current hunger crisis in the strip.

During a press conference held in Cairo on Monday, he said the presence of a proper political will can address this crisis and flood Gaza with food aid through the land crossings.

“We are engaged in a race against the clock to try to reverse the impact of the spreading hunger and the looming famine in the Gaza Strip,” Lazzarini continued.

Lazzarini had planned to visit Rafah but was informed that his entry had been denied. This entry refusal of a high-level UN official while carrying out his duties was described by Shoukry as "unprecedented."

Rafah currently houses nearly 1.5 million Palestinians, which is more than half of the Gaza population, most of whom were displaced by the war.