UNRWA Chief Says Starvation Becomes The Latest Killer In Gaza Strip

Head of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini. (Twitter/@UNLazzarini)

JAKARTA - UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said on Tuesday hunger had become the latest killer in Gaza, stressing "it's time for unbarreled, safe, and dignified help."

"Five months after ongoing efforts to replace the UN's coordinated response with four Israeli military distribution points, hunger has become Gaza's newest killer," Lazzarini wrote on his X account.

"Before hunger spread, community-based distribution centers supported by partners have provided food and assistance to two million people, spread across the Gaza Strip," he added.

The death toll from children and adults from hunger and malnutrition continues to grow in the Gaza Strip, as the humanitarian crisis takes place in the Palestinian enclave amid Israeli aggression and blockades.

A medical source in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday announced eight Palestinians had died from hunger and malnutrition in Gaza in the past 24 hours.

They confirmed that among the victims there was a child and seven adults, bringing the total death toll from hunger to 188, including 94 children.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues to worsen due to the blockade and lack of food and medical supplies. This severe hunger is closely related to the genocide war that Israel has waged since October 7, 2023.

Since March 2, 2025, occupation authorities have closed all crossings into the Gaza Strip, blocking the entry of most food and medical aids, which accelerates the spread of hunger in the Palestinian enclave.

UNRWA has previously warned that malnutrition in children under five has doubled between March and June due to the ongoing blockade.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirms the level of malnutrition in Gaza has reached an alarming rate, with nearly one in five children under five under five in Gaza City suffering from acute malnutrition.

"It's time for unobstructed, safe, and dignified help. Let the United Nations and our partners do their job," said Lazzarini.