The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) reports that nearly 110,000 individuals have evacuated the southern Gazan city of Rafah following an evacuation order issued by the Israeli military. Satellite images confirm the mass exodus of Palestinians from the city.
UNRWA expressed concern over the escalating bombardment by Israeli forces in Rafah, leading to continued forced displacement. The agency emphasized the lack of safe havens within the Gaza Strip, highlighting the dire living conditions faced by the displaced population.
UNICEF's senior emergency coordinator in Gaza, Hamish Young, described the residents of Rafah as 'absolutely exhausted and terrified.' He noted the heightened risks of disease, infection, malnutrition, dehydration, especially among children, within the displaced community.
Young recounted witnessing the extreme desperation of the people in Rafah, citing instances of individuals transporting makeshift latrines on donkey carts. He highlighted the severe lack of proper sanitation facilities, drinking water, and shelter, with families resorting to improvised solutions such as digging holes for toilets around tent clusters.
The situation in Gaza has led to repeated displacements for almost every resident, underscoring the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
