UNRWA’s Lazzarini says Rafah invasion could hinge on ceasefire talks this week
“There is an extraordinary deep anxiety in Gaza” right now, as people fear a possible invasion of Rafah, says Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
The prospects of such an invasion “will all depend on whether a ceasefire deal will be reached this week”, the UNRWA chief said during a briefing in Geneva.
“People have not yet been asked to evacuate from Rafah,” he added. “But there is a sense that if there is not a ceasefire deal this week, it could happen at any time.”
UNRWA chief Lazzarini says there is more food on offer at markets in northern Gaza after an increase in supply in April. However, these supplies are still far from accessible to most people who have no cash left to spend nearly seven months into the war, he said.
Lazzarini also noted that UNRWA officials on the ground in Gaza describe residents as experiencing a constant state of trauma due to ongoing military attacks, hunger and overall deteriorating conditions.
“We are not talking any more about PTSD, but CTSD: Constant traumatic stress disorder,” Lazzarini said.
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