10 UN workers killed in Gaza the last 72 hours, bringing total to 63, relief agency says

In just the past three days, 10 United Nations staff members have been killed in Gaza, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said Monday. 

That brings the total number of UNRWA staff killed in Gaza since October 7 to 63, the agency said. 

The UNRWA, which runs the “largest humanitarian operation” in the Gaza Strip, also described dire conditions at its network of schools that are sheltering displaced Gazans.

“The average number of IDPs (internally displaced persons) per shelter has almost reached four times their intended capacity,” UNRWA added. 

Overcrowded conditions “create severe health and protection concerns for IDPs and place a “heavy toll on their mental health,” the agency stressed. 

More than 511,000 people are sheltering in 92 shelters — an increase of about 13,000 internally displaced persons since the UNRWA's last update. 

Several incidents of collateral damage to UNRWA premises have also been observed in the past 72 hours, the agency said.