The evacuation of Shujaiya district, east of Gaza City, took place after several days of heavy bombardment by the Israeli army, whose tanks were discovered “off Salah El Din road, the main north-south axis”. about 100″ meters east.
“People in this area told us about the looming famine, and about people having to eat leaves or just flour to survive,” said the United Nations aid agency supporting Palestinian refugees. said. UNRWA.
Grief and loss
In a written exchange with United Nations NewsSenior Communications Officer Louise Wateridge described the devastation in the affected areas, which spanned about seven square kilometres – as “apocalyptic – most people had lost their homes, either completely or in part, and had to flee with very few belongings; basically what they could carry in their hands. Many people had lost family members”.
Ms Wateridge added: “Pregnant women and people with disabilities are the most vulnerable as they cannot easily move around in situations of forced displacement, as well as a major concern for thousands of people. Unaccompanied children and lost parents.
The violence also prevented the agency from reaching a distribution center in the Tuffah area of Gaza City, “due to its proximity to the front line.”
Of the approximately 84,000 people currently displaced, approximately 10,600 have found shelter in a total of 27 locations, including UNRWA schools, which have temporary medical posts and are under increasing pressure to respond. meet needs.
Others are in schools, government buildings and open areas, the UN agency spokesman added.
Forced out again
To help those forced to flee their homes by the latest escalation of the conflict, sparked nine months ago by Hamas-led terror attacks and hostage-taking in multiple locations across southern Israel, the UN agency has been distributing water, food parcels and flour.
Distributions of diapers, mattresses and tarpaulins are also planned for today, Ms. Wateridge said, noting that some fuel for the agency’s needs was delivered on Sunday across the barrier separating Gaza and Israel.
A limited amount of diesel has also been brought into the area to operate hospital generators and desalination plants but the need is still great, humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned.
According to the latest update from the United Nations aid coordination office, OCHAAccess restrictions, insecurity and ongoing hostilities continued to “significantly hinder” the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance and services across Gaza.
“This includes critical food and nutrition aid, medical care, shelter support, water, sanitation and hygiene services for hundreds of thousands of people in need,” OCHA said on Friday, noting that Israeli authorities have facilitated less than half of the more than 100 planned, coordinated humanitarian assistance missions reaching northern Gaza this month..
“The rest were obstructed, denied access or destroyed for logistical, operational or security reasons.”
OCHA also noted that a military operation in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis sent “dozens of casualties” to a nearby field hospital and displaced at least 5,000 people, according to the sources. partners on the ground.
Scene of destruction
Amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Rafah that began last month, southern Gaza “now looks like the apocalyptic scene in the north and Gaza City,” the UNRWA official noted.
As the largest United Nations aid agency in Gaza, UNRWA has continued to provide “as many humanitarian services and necessities as possible – providing food, health care and even learning for children; but the United Nations is almost unable to provide any response due to the Israeli siege,” Ms. Wateridge explained.
“Lack of fuel; lack of supplies; lack of safety; and all of our personnel are struggling, struggling to survive throughout this war.”
