As the Israeli military campaign in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah rages on, a mass exodus of over 110,000 Palestinians has ensued, with families fleeing the bombardment and clashes in search of safety. However, as the United Nations agencies on the ground have warned, “nowhere is safe in the Gaza Strip,” and the living conditions for the displaced are nothing short of atrocious.
In a call echoed by multiple UN aid agencies, the “only hope” to avert further bloodshed and restore desperately needed aid deliveries lies in an immediate ceasefire. The situation has become increasingly dire, with aid operations restricted and vital supplies of food, water, fuel, and medical resources dwindling rapidly.
A Desperate Flight from Rafah
The scenes emerging from Rafah paint a grim picture of displacement and desperation. Families, laden with belongings, have been streaming out of the eastern part of the city on cars, motorbikes, and even donkey carts, heeding evacuation orders from the Israeli military.
However, the areas they are fleeing to, such as Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, lack the basic services required to support the influx of displaced civilians. Evacuees are jamming the roads leading to the coastal zone of Al-Mawasi, where authorities have instructed many to move.
Living Conditions Deteriorate Rapidly
| Rapidly Deteriorating Conditions |
|---|
| – Lack of proper sanitation facilities |
| – Dwindling drinking water supplies |
| – Inadequate shelter |
| – Open defecation on the rise |
“People I speak with tell me they are exhausted, terrified and know life in Al-Mawasi will, again, impossibly, be harder,”
said Hamish Young, UNICEF’s Senior Emergency Coordinator in the Gaza Strip.
A Failing Aid Operation
The closure of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings – the main entry points for aid into Gaza – has effectively halted the flow of critical supplies. UN agencies have reported that their teams and resources are stranded, unable to reach those in need.
“Our supplies are stuck. Our teams are stuck,” lamented Martin Griffiths, the UN’s top aid official, who emphasized that “nothing and no-one had been allowed in or out of Gaza” for days.
Food and Fuel Running Out
The World Food Programme has warned that its main warehouse in Gaza is now inaccessible, and supplies of food and fuel will only last one to three days before its operations grind to a halt.
Healthcare System on Verge of Collapse
Perhaps the most alarming situation is unfolding in Gaza’s remaining medical facilities, which are rapidly running out of fuel to power their operations. Without fuel, the World Health Organization has cautioned, “the whole system collapses.”
A Dire Prognosis
Hospitals face the imminent prospect of losing power, thereby rendering them unable to provide even the most basic lifesaving treatments. Consequently, ventilators, incubators, and other crucial equipment will cease functioning, putting countless lives at risk, including premature babies born at facilities like the Emirati hospital.
According to UNICEF’s Executive Director Catherine Russell,
“We need fuel to move lifesaving supplies – medicine, treatments for malnutrition, tents and water pipes – as well as staff to reach children and families in need.”
Compounding the Crisis
Without fresh aid supplies, children and families risk dehydration or may resort to drinking dangerous water. Meanwhile, sewage treatment centers “will overflow and spread disease further,” UNICEF warns.
Approximately 80 babies are born at Emirati hospital every day. But as Hamish Young noted, the facility “cannot function” without fuel, leaving pregnant women “without options for safe delivery of their newborns.”
A Call for Immediate Ceasefire
As the exodus from Rafah continues and the humanitarian crisis deepens, the UN’s calls for an immediate ceasefire have grown increasingly urgent. Both sides of the conflict must heed these calls and allow for the swift resumption of aid operations before it is too late.
The international community must also step up and exert pressure on the parties involved to prioritize the safety and well-being of the civilian population, whose suffering has reached unprecedented levels.
No End in Sight
With no let-up in the Israeli military operation in Rafah into Friday, and reports that hospitals there have begun emptying of patients and staff, the situation on the ground remains precarious and fluid.
Gazan health authorities state that since October 7th, Israeli bombardment and ground operations in Gaza have caused the deaths of at least 34,900 people, while well over 78,500 have been wounded. Hamas-led terror attacks on southern Israel, which sparked the conflict, claimed the lives of some 1,250 individuals, with over 250 being taken hostage. Dozens are still in captivity.
Sources: THX News & United Nations.
