GAZA: The UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is “hanging on by our fingertips”, its commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini has said.

In a letter to the president of the UN general assembly, Dennis Francis, Lazzarini said: “We are hanging on by our fingertips. If UNRWA collapses, humanitarian assistance in Gaza will also collapse. “UNRWA is, as of today, still operational in Gaza, though just barely.

Our staff are still operating health centres, managing shelters and supporting traumatised people, some arriving carrying their dead children,“ he said.

UK-based Save the Children and six other aid organisations say they were “appalled” at the failure of the UN Security Council to pass a resolution demanding a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

“If implemented, this would have provided much needed respite for civilians in Gaza who are under constant bombardment,” a joint statement read.

’The only way for civilian lives to be protected and for adequate humanitarian assistance to be provided is for the fighting to stop.“

The statement called on the UNSC to “urgently reconvene and pass a resolution” and “create the conditions needed to enable humanitarian aid to reach civilians.”