United Nations Radio

The head of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Karen AbuZayd, shared with the UN Security Council her experience of living through the first week of the siege in Gaza and of its aftermath.

She said she observed what appears to have been systematic destruction to schools, universities, residential buildings, factories, shops and farms. She also described the people of Gaza as having stared death in the face and living in an atmosphere of shock and sorrow:

children affected by war in Gaza

"There is rage against the attackers for often failing to distinguish between military targets and civilians and there is also resentment against the international community for having allowed first the siege and then the war to go on for so long. Yet, my interaction with Palestinians in Gaza has also evinced their fortitude, their determination to overcome the pain of loss and their belief in the possibilities of rebuilding their lives."

Karen AbuZayd asked the international community to respond with urgency and resolve, to take advantage of the opportunities to help restore normal life to Gaza. She also appealed to the Security Council to stay engaged in securing the fragile ceasefire achieved on January 18th and to take political action to allow humanitarian and development activities in Gaza to have the maximum impact.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.
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