The exodus from Gaza City’s eastern Shujaiya district follows days of reported intense bombardment by the Israeli army, whose tanks were seen “about 100” meters east of the Salah El Din road, the main north-south axis.
“People in this area tell us about the threat of famine, and how people are eating tree leaves or only have flour to survive on,” said the UN aid agency helping Palestinian refugees. UNRWA.
Sadness and loss
In a written exchange with UN NewsSenior communications officer Louise Wateridge described the devastation in the affected areas, which cover around seven square kilometers – as “apocalyptic – most people have lost all or part of their homes and have had to flee with very few possessions; essentially what they can carry in their hands. Many people have lost members of their families.”
“Pregnant women and people with disabilities are among the most vulnerable as they cannot move easily during forced displacements. There is also great concern for thousands of unaccompanied and separated children,” Ms Wateridge added.
The violence has also left the agency unable to access its distribution center in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood, “due to its proximity to the frontline.”
Of the approximately 84,000 people currently displaced, approximately 10,600 have found shelter in a total of 27 locations, including UNRWA schools, where pop-up health points are available and are under increasing pressure to meet demand.
Others are staying in government schools, buildings and open spaces, the UN agency spokesman said.
Forced again
To help those forced to flee their homes by the latest escalation of the conflict, which was sparked nine months ago by Hamas-led terror attacks and hostage-taking in several locations in southern Israel, the UN agency has already distributed water, food parcels and flour.
The distribution of diapers, mattresses and tarpaulins is also scheduled for today, said Ms. Wateridge, who noted that some fuel for the agency’s needs had been delivered on Sunday via the fenced road that separates Gaza from Israel.
A limited amount of diesel has also entered the enclave to run the hospital’s generators and desalination plants, but needs remain high, humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned.
According to the latest update from the UN Aid Coordination Office, OCHAAccess restrictions, insecurity and ongoing hostilities continue to “significantly hamper” the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance and services across Gaza.
“This includes crucial food and nutrition assistance, medical care, shelter support and water, sanitation and hygiene services for hundreds of thousands of people in need,” OCHA said on Friday, noting that the Israeli authorities had facilitated less than half of the more than 100 planned humanitarian aid missions coordinated this month to reach northern Gaza.
“The rest were obstructed, denied access or canceled for logistical, operational or security reasons.”
OCHA also noted that a military operation in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis resulted in “dozens of casualties” arriving at a nearby field hospital and the displacement of at least 5,000 people, according to partners on the ground.
Destruction scene
Amid the ongoing Israeli military operation in Rafah that began last month, southern Gaza now resembles the apocalyptic scenes of the north and Gaza City, the UNRWA official noted.
As the UN’s largest aid agency in Gaza, UNRWA has continued to provide “as much humanitarian services and supplies as possible – providing food, health care and even learning activities for children; but it is becoming almost impossible for the UN to mount any kind of response because of the Israeli-imposed siege,” Ms Wateridge explained.
“Lack of fuel; lack of relief supplies; lack of security; and general hardship for our personnel, who themselves are struggling to survive during this war.”
