GAZA, Friday, November 3, 2023 (WAFA) - UNRWA Director in Gaza, Thomas White, said today via a video call that the UN flag is no longer enough to protect Palestinians seeking refuge in UN buildings.

“We cannot even provide them safety under a UN flag,” said White in reference to the approximately 600,000 people who are seeking refuge in UN buildings in the Gaza Strip, including schools.

He said that more than 50 UN facilities were damaged by Israeli shelling, including five that were directly targeted, which so far resulted in the killing of 38 people who sought refuge there.

He expressed his fear that this number would rise "significantly," especially in the northern Gaza Strip, as the agency affirmed that it has lost contact with many centers.

He further noted that 72 UNRWA staff were killed since the start of the Israeli aggression on the Strip on October 7.

"The reality is we've lost contact with many of the shelters in the north," said White addressing representatives of member states on the humanitarian situation there.

"These are people seeking shelter under a UN flag seeking protection under international humanitarian law," stressing, "Let's be very clear, there is no place that is safe in Gaza right now."

T.R.