UNWRA demands clarification of OCHA position on GHF : Shared by Robert Cohen

UNRWA demands “urgent clarification” over UN meeting with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

The New Humanitarian — August 13, 2025
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Summary

UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has issued a leaked letter to UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher demanding “urgent clarification” following a meeting on August 6 involving the UN and major aid organizations with the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Lazzarini warns that silencing criticism of GHF—despite its sites being described as “death traps” and accused of facilitating “orchestrated killing and dehumanisation”—risks UN complicity in war crimes and jeopardises humanitarian principles globally.

The concerns arise amid escalating violence around GHF distribution sites, where nearly 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since late May. Médecins Sans Frontières, Amnesty International, UN experts, and over 200 NGOs have denounced the GHF’s operations and called for its dismantling. Lazzarini emphasizes that prior unified condemnation of GHF by UN relief leadership helped maintain fraternity in humanitarian efforts, a unity now threatened by new engagement with GHF.

Quotes

“Silence in the face of incidents that may amount to war crimes … may be perceived as complicity.” — Philippe Lazzarini

“Médecins Sans Frontières has described GHF distribution centres as sites of ‘orchestrated killing and dehumanisation.’”

“Over 1,400 Palestinians were killed … in the vicinity of the GHF’s four distribution centres.”

“The fracturing of the humanitarian community in Gaza … further endangering humanitarian operations and personnel.” — Philippe Lazzarini