🌐 In a rapidly escalating situation, Israel has ordered additional evacuations in the besieged northern Gaza region. The move comes as retaliation for recent rocket fire into Israeli territory, intensifying the humanitarian crisis gripping the area.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Friday that civilians in the Al-Bureij area of Deir al Balah governorate have been directed to relocate westward. This directive adds to the growing displacement of families who are already facing immense challenges.
🛑 Despite the urgent need for assistance, Israeli authorities have continued to block UN efforts to coordinate safe movements for humanitarian workers. \"Today, 6 out of 10 coordination attempts were outright rejected,\" OCHA stated. \"Of the remaining four, only two proceeded fully, while the others faced serious impediments. Among the rejected was our plan to deliver supplies to the besieged areas of North Gaza governorate.\"
🚶♀️🚶♂️ Many residents, already displaced multiple times, are being forced to flee under intense bombardment, often without their belongings and into areas lacking basic necessities. Humanitarian organizations are stretched thin, doing everything possible to support people wherever they are.
🤒 The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the dire medical situation. On Tuesday, 55 patients and 72 companions were evacuated from Gaza to the United Arab Emirates for treatment. Since October 2023, over 5,300 patients have been evacuated abroad, but more than 12,000 critically ill patients, including thousands of children, are still awaiting evacuation. \"It would take 5-10 years to evacuate all these critically ill patients,\" stated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X (formerly Twitter). \"In the meantime, their conditions get worse and some die.\"
💔 Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), expressed concern over a new Israeli bill that could ban the agency from operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The legislation is set to take effect in less than four weeks. Despite this, UNRWA teams remain committed to delivering aid. Since the conflict escalated in October 2023, UNRWA has provided 6.7 million medical consultations in Gaza—over 1,600 per day.
👩⚕️🧑🏫 UNRWA's efforts have also included mental health support for 730,000 people, vaccination of 560,000 children under 10 against polio, and educational activities for 18,000 children. Nearly 2 million people received food assistance, and hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals found shelter through UNRWA.
🙏 \"We stress once again that UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response and is irreplaceable,\" OCHA emphasized. \"A collapse of its operations, should the new legislation take effect, would lead to immense suffering for people already enduring extreme hardship.\"
When questioned about the potential cessation of UNRWA operations, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq relayed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' stance: \"Under international law, if UNRWA is not able to go about its mandated tasks, Israel, as the occupying power, would have to take on those responsibilities.\"
✨ The international community watches closely as the situation unfolds, hoping for a resolution that brings peace and relief to those affected. The resilience of the Gazan people and the dedication of humanitarian workers continue to shine amid the darkness.
Reference(s):
Israel orders more evacuations in Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens
cgtn.com
