The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) announced today Wednesday the death of at least one of its members in an Israeli bombardment against one of its warehouses in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

“At least one Unrwa worker was killed and 22 others were injured in an Israeli strike against a food distribution center in eastern Rafah”, says a press release from the agency.

Asked about this by AFP, the Israeli army has not yet responded.

For its part, the Ministry of Health of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza spoke of four deaths in the “bombing” of the warehouse.

“Today’s attack on one of the few UNRWA distribution centers still operating in the Gaza Strip comes at a time when malnutrition, i.e. the famine in some areas is intensifying” in the enclave, according to Unrwa director Philippe Lazzarini, according to a press release.

“Every day, we give our coordinates to the parties involved in the conflict. The Israeli army received the coordinates, including those of this center, yesterday (Tuesday),” he added.

Since the start of the war on October 7, at least 165 members of this UN agency have been killed and more than 140 of its centers, including many schools, have been damaged, the press release said.

“The United Nations, its staff, its facilities they must be constantly protected. Since the start of the war, attacks against UN centers have been common,” Lazzarini added, denouncing a “flagrant violation of international law.”

An AFP photojournalist saw victims being taken to al-Najjar hospital in Rafah, at least one of whom was identified by other people at the hospital as a UN worker.

Juliet Toumarepresentative of the UN agency, he spoke earlier of “many injured” from the blow.

The Health Ministry of Hamas emphasized for its part that at least four people were killed in the “bombing” of the warehouse.