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GAZA / KRAHENBUHL
STORY: GAZA / KRAHENBUHL
TRT: 4.04
SOURCE: UNRWA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 14 JULY, GAZA, PALESTINE
1. Tracking shot, UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl and Director of UNRWA Gaza Operations Robert Turner walking into airstrike damaged UNRWA elementary
2. Various shots, Krähenbühl inside damaged classroom
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Pierre Krähenbühl, UNRWA Commissioner-General:
“And I think you have to also remember every time what it means. A classroom symbolizes children. And of course we have seen that about a quarter of the victims of the current airstrikes have been children. And it reminds us that it shouldn’t be happening. These children shouldn’t have to experience, not only the violence and the destruction but also what it means in terms of personal traumas. I think that goes through everybody’s mind every single day and I have received messages from UNRWA staff who tell me about the fact that they simply don’t know anymore how to answer the questions of their children. And when the children ask why is this happening, why is the house shaking, what’s going on? To once again having to explain what this is all about is incredibly difficult for everybody, so a lot of thoughts go through one’s mind. But at the same time, a deep recognition for the courage, the dedication of UNRWA staff to continue under these difficult circumstances, every day, to go the distribution centre s, to go the clinics to be able to provide the assistance that is needed now more than ever. So a lot of deep respect for them.”
4. Med shot, Krähenbühl among the rubble
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Palestinian Woman:
“What we need from the United Nations and the whole world is peace. My children are terrified from bombing every day by damaged windows in UNRWA classroom.”
6. Wide shot, UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl standing by lady in classroom that serves as refugee shelter
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Pierre Krähenbühl, UNRWA Commissioner-General:
“We also hope that the situation will calm down and they can go back. In the meantime we argue, we do what we can.”
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Pierre Krähenbühl, UNRWA Commissioner-General:
“All indications are -and I find this particularly dramatic - that women and children make up a sizable number of victims of the current strikes. Currently more than one quarter of the fatalities are children.”
14. Wide shot, press.
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Pierre Krähenbühl, UNRWA Commissioner-General:
“I’m equally disturbed that people with disabilities are among the victims, reportedly because of Israeli strikes.”
16. Med shot, journalists
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Pierre Krähenbühl, UNRWA Commissioner-General:
“Never will even the most impressive television footage properly capture the depth of fear and despair felt in the homes and hearts of Gazans who are yet again facing death, destruction and displacement.”
18. Med shot, journalists
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Pierre Krähenbühl, UNRWA Commissioner-General:
“We must be careful about the endless enumeration of casualty numbers. The dead and injured in Gaza are not anonymous. Behind the figures there lie multiple individual destinies that have now been torn apart.”
20. Wide shot, press
21. SOUNDBITE (English) Pierre Krähenbühl, UNRWA Commissioner-General:
“Too often in their lives have Gazan civilians been denied their dignity. Anonymity in death or injury is the ultimate denial.
22. Med shot, journalists.
23. It is also too comfortable for the world and the parties engaged in the hostilities. “Palestinians are not statistics and we must never allow them to be treated as such.”
24. Wide shot, press
25. SOUNDBITE (English) UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl:
“They are human beings like others in the world, with their identity and the same hopes and expectations for an improved future for their children.”
UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl visited Gaza today (14 July) in the midst of the intense bombardment of the small, densely populated coastal territory.
The onslaught on Gaza in form of airstrikes and shelling continues to be relentless and has caused unspeakable suffering for the civilian population. At the time of Krähenbühl’s visit the casualty numbers are said to lie at 174 killed and over 1,100 wounded.
Krähenbühl said “all indications are that women and children make up a sizable number of victims of the current strikes” and added that he was equally disturbed that people with disabilities are among the victims, reportedly as a result of Israeli strikes.
Krähenbühl expressed his deepest respect for the courage, the dedication of UNRWA staff who continue under these difficult circumstances, every day, to go the distribution centres, to go the clinics to be able to provide the assistance that is needed now more than ever.
UNRWA has succeeded in maintaining services to the suffering Palestinian refugee population despite dramatic escalation in violence over the past few days and the massive assault on Gaza. UNRWA has declared an emergency in all five areas of the Gaza Strip. It is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to mount an emergency response should that become necessary.
The priority for the Agency has now shifted to emergency operations, providing assistance to those around 17,000 refugees from the northern areas who have been displaced and sought shelter in 20 UNRWA schools, while attempting to continue regular operations.
UNRWA health clinics across Gaza are still functioning and receiving patients Gaza, including more than 500 children who received their regular check up or immunization vaccinations.
Krähenbühl visited two schools in Gaza City, one that is empty because of the summer holiday, but that has been damaged by airstrikes, and another where refugees from the north have sought shelter.
UNRWA very much fears that preparations for a ground offensive will imminently lead to large-scale displacement from areas near the fence with Israel as well as the impact on Gazan civilians, including significant damage to shelters and infrastructure, in addition to displacement and massive disruption to the economy.
Nevertheless, UNRWA’s food distribution continued and food rations are being provided to beneficiaries through 9 distribution centres across the Gaza Strip.
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