UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was “deeply saddened to learn of the death of the UN staff member and an injury to another in Rafah.” Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, issued a statement on behalf of the UNSG.
The statement said that a UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) staff member has been killed and another injured. This took place “when their UN vehicle was struck as they travelled to the European Hospital in Rafah this morning.”
Speaking on behalf of the UNSG, Haq called for a “full investigation” into the incident. He reiterated the UN’s stance that there should be a ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
Haq confirmed that the killing was the UN’s “first international casualty. He refused to confirm reports that the deceased UN staff member was an Indian national.
“We are in the process of informing the relevant governments and the relevant family members, so I wouldn’t share any names or nationalities.”
Sources have confirmed the deceased was an Indian national.
This is not the first time that the killing of an international aid worker has caused outrage. There was anger against Israel as it killed seven members of the non-profit NGO World Central Kitchen in April. The seven were killed on Al-Rashid street. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Al-Rashid street was “designated for the passage of humanitarian aid.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message that Israel had “unintentionally killed the aid workers. He apologised but said that “this happens in war.”
Israeli protesters have also blocked aid trucks heading into Gaza throwing food packages onto the road at Tarqumiya checkpoint, west of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Traveller, bibliophile and wordsmith with a yen for international relations. A journalist and budding author of short fiction, life is a daily struggle to uncover the latest breaking story while attempting to be Hemingway in the self-same time. Focussed especially on Europe and West Asia, discussing Brexit, the Iran crisis and all matters related is a passion that endures to this day. Believes firmly that life without the written word is a life best not lived. That’s me, Ashwin Ahmad.
