In the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, a tragic incident has claimed the lives of a World Health Organization (WHO) employee, her 6-month-old baby, her husband, and two brothers. WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared this devastating news on Tuesday evening via his X platform.
According to the organization, the employee, aged 29, sought refuge in her parents’ home in the southern part of the coastal strip after fleeing from the northern city of Gaza. Unfortunately, the home was bombed, resulting in the heartbreaking loss of multiple family members.
“I don’t know how to express our grief in words,” wrote Tedros, conveying the profound sadness surrounding this incident. While not explicitly stated, it seems to be the first death within the WHO ranks since the conflict began.
Since the commencement of the Gaza war, the United Nations has experienced the highest number of casualties within its organization at the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), with 108 staff members losing their lives. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini recently revealed that 67 UN facilities have been affected by the conflict, including 17 in direct attacks.
Lazzarini emphasized the challenges faced in providing security, particularly in central and southern areas of the Gaza Strip where assurances of safety were made. “We can no longer ensure the protection of individuals under the United Nations flag,” he lamented.
