The warning from Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of UNRWAUNRWA was prompted by renewed evacuation orders from the Israeli army, which “Many refuse because they know all too well that no place in Gaza is safe”.
The development comes amid reports from local authorities of intense Israeli bombardments in the north of the shattered enclave, where ground operations are also taking place. The Jabalia refugee camp is surrounded, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said this weekend, before issuing evacuation orders on Tuesday.
Strikes have also been reported in Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, cities in northeastern Gaza, with roads also closed.
“The intensified military operations in the north are forcing us to close life-saving services,” Mr Lazzarini said said on social media on Wednesday.
He added that seven of the UN schools-turned-shelters are being evacuated, while only two of the eight wells in the Jabalia camp are still operational. It is believed that around 400,000 people remain in northern Gaza.
“Children, as always, are the first and most to suffer” the head of UNRWA said, adding that hunger “spread and worsened” because “almost no basic services” were available.
At least 45 people have been killed and 130 injured in the past 24 hours, according to local health authorities in Gaza. Since Hamas-led terror attacks on several Israeli locations that killed some 1,250 and took more than 250 hostage, the death toll in Gaza has reportedly reached at least 42,000 people. Another 97,700 were injured, often with life-changing injuries.
Destruction in Lebanon
In Lebanon, the UN Aid Coordination Office, OCHAreported “relentless” and “reinforcing” bombardments” of previously unaffected areas, amid continued rocket attacks on Israel by Hezbollah.
“In one day – October 6 – the southern suburbs and surrounding areas of Beirut were hit by more than 30 airstrikes, frightening residents and forcing further displacement from densely populated areas, including the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp,” OCHA said in a report. update Published Wednesday.
The latest Health Ministry data indicates more than 2,083 collective deaths and 9,869 injuries since October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah’s rocket fire on northern Israel increased as the war in Gaza broke out. Most of Lebanon’s casualties have occurred in the past two weeks, amid intense Israeli bombing and ground operations in southern Lebanon.
According to the UN Human Rights Office OHCHR25 percent of Lebanese territory is affected by Israeli military relocation orders. Displacement orders are being issued “daily” for more than 100 villages and urban neighborhoods in southern Lebanon, forcing people to flee and pushing many up to 30 km north.
Huge move
OCHA reported that a total of around 1.2 million people are now internally displaced, with 180,700 seeking refuge in 978 shelters, of which 775 are already at full capacity. The violence has also delayed the start of the school year, while the UN Children’s Fund UNICEFsaid about 350,000 children have been displaced.
“Major damage is occurring among the civilian population as a result of explosive weapons in densely populated areas and forced relocation orders,” OCHA noted. “Urgent action is needed to protect civilians from escalating violence and ensure that humanitarian workers and aid workers can safely provide critical support.”
