Many people in Gaza live in destroyed buildings. Escalation in Gaza City: Tens of thousands of people forced to flee their homes Peace and Security
Heavy fighting in northern Gaza has forced some 84,000 people to flee to the eastern part of the enclave and has resulted in the loss of access to a key aid distribution center. UN humanitarian agencies announced this on Monday.
Residents of the Shujaiya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City were reportedly forced to flee their homes after days of intense bombing by the Israeli military, whose tanks were spotted “about 100 meters” east of the main Salah road. el-Din.
According to the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), in the face of looming famine, people are forced to eat tree leaves or eat only flour.
New victims
UNRWA senior communications officer Louise Waterage described the devastation in the affected areas, which span about seven square kilometers, as “apocalyptic,” with people losing loved ones and a roof over their heads and being forced to flee with what belongings they had taken with them.
Pregnant women and people with disabilities have difficulty moving, Wateridge said, and the large number of unaccompanied children separated from their families is also a huge concern.
The agency also lost access to its distribution center in the Tuffa area of Gaza City due to its proximity to the fighting.
Humanitarian Situation
UNRWA is distributing water, food parcels and flour, and distribution of diapers, mattresses and tarps is also planned, Wateridge said, noting that some fuel for the agency’s needs was delivered on Sunday. The enclave has also received a limited amount of diesel fuel to run hospital generators and desalination plants, but this is still not enough.
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According UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report, access restrictions, insecurity and ongoing fighting continue to significantly hinder the delivery of needed aid and services throughout Gaza.
OCHA noted that Israeli authorities facilitated less than half of the more than 100 humanitarian missions planned for the month to the north of the enclave. The rest had to be canceled for various reasons.
The UN Office also emphasized that the military operation in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Yunis led to the fact that in the nearby field Dozens of wounded were admitted to the hospital and at least 5,000 people were forced to flee their homes.
UNRWA continues to provide humanitarian services to Gazans and distribute essential items, including food, but the UN is extremely limited in its activities due to the Israeli siege. According to Wateridge, employees are working in unbearable conditions and are struggling to survive, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to provide assistance.