Eighty-eight UN staff members have been killed in Gaza

The death toll of staff of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has reached 88 since the start of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the highest for the world organisation. The leaders of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, which brings together the main humanitarian agencies both within the UN structure and operating independently, said in a joint statement.

"Scores of aid workers have been killed since October 7 including 88 UNRWA colleagues – the highest number of United Nations fatalities ever recorded in a single conflict. We renew our plea for the parties to respect all their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law," said the statement signed by UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain, World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adanom Ghebreyesus, UN Children's Fund Executive Director Catherine Russell and others.

They also pointed to the importance of supplying the Gaza Strip with sufficient water, food, medicine and fuel, demanded the immediate release of all hostages and the protection of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, shelters and schools

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