Nearly all internally displaced persons have left Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah, according to the United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees. As of June 5, only around 100,000 people remain in the area, as reported by UNRWA.
Prior to Israel’s assault on the city on May 6, an estimated 1.2 million displaced Palestinians sought shelter in Rafah after fleeing the fighting elsewhere in Gaza. However, all UNRWA shelters in Rafah have now been vacated.
Across the Gaza Strip, a total of 1.7 million people are displaced, with families being forced to move multiple times due to ongoing military operations and Israeli evacuation orders, according to UNRWA.
As Israel continues its incursion into Rafah, a new military operation was launched in central Gaza earlier this week. This escalation of violence has resulted in tragic consequences, with dozens of individuals losing their lives in recent days.
One such devastating incident occurred when a school run by UNRWA in Nuseirat, central Gaza, was struck, leading to the deaths of many. Approximately 6,000 people had sought refuge at the school, highlighting the dire situation faced by displaced individuals in the region.
