today, the UNRWA staff death toll has surpassed the gruesome milestone of 300

UNRWA

18 May 2025

From Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA Commissioner-General as posted on his official X account (previously known as Twitter)

Gaza: throughout this war, one of the most dreadful updates I regularly receive is the death toll on UNRWA

staff.

Today, that death toll has surpassed the gruesome milestone of 300.

The vast majority of staff were killed by the Israeli Army with their children and loved ones: whole families wiped out.

Several were killed in the line of duty while serving their communities.

Those killed were mostly UN health workers and teachers, supporting their communities.

Nothing justifies these killings.

Impunity will lead to more killing.

Those responsible must be held accountable.

Background Information:

UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency’s area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.

UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.

UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.