The new evacuation order and airstrikes highlight the ongoing unrest in Gaza
This comes a day after Israel again ordered the evacuation of large areas of Gaza, citing rockets fired into its territory.
The new orders cover approximately three square kilometers in the provinces of North Gaza and Deir Al-Balah, according to initial analysis by OCHA.
Deadly airstrike
Since then, strikes have been reported in the Al Mawasi area, where residents were ordered to move and take shelter.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) write on social networks that five young men were said to have been killed on Wednesday night and others injured in an attack on a tent in Mawasi – a so-called “safe zone”.
Aid activities are hindered
OCHA reiterates that currently more than 80% of the Gaza Strip is under Israel’s irrevocable evacuation order.
In this situation, the ability of humanitarian organizations to assist people in need across Gaza is increasingly diminished, the agency warned.
“December saw some of the strictest restrictions on humanitarian movement on record. This includes blocking access to border areas to collect supplies and denying efforts to deliver goods and services or assess needs across Gaza.”, said OCHA.
Overall, Israel rejected 39% of UN efforts to move aid workers anywhere in Gazawith another 18% disrupted on the ground or otherwise obstructed.
Additionally, for the besieged areas of Northern Gaza, access has been denied for 88 consecutive days or since October 6.
West Coast Review
Meanwhile in the West Bank, humanitarian organizations conducted an assessment of the consequences of Israeli forces’ operations in the Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps on December 24 and 25.
The exercise was carried out by OCHA, together with the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWAand aid partners.
Teams visited the area Tuesday and estimated more than 1,000 housing units and about 100 stores had been damaged by explosions or bulldozing.
Furthermore, more than 20 families with more than 90 people were displaced, while damaged infrastructure disrupted electricity, water and wastewater networks.
In response, OCHA mobilized humanitarian action by partners, who transported water by truck to those in need.
This assessment will inform further interventions, including installation of new water tanks, vacuuming of wastewater, distribution of hygiene kits and emergency cash.
A patient was brought into Egypt from Gaza through the Rafah border crossing in 2023.
Promote evacuation: WHO
Also on Thursday, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) once again raises the alarm about the need for emergency medical evacuation from Gaza, note that speeds are still extremely slow.
Only 5,383 patients have been evacuated with support from WHO since October 2023, including only 436 patients since the Rafah border crossing was closed, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement posted online. society.
He said more than 12,000 people still needed medical evacuation.
“At this rate, it will take 5-10 years to evacuate all these critically ill patients, including thousands of children. Meanwhile, their condition worsened and some died,” he warned.
Tedros reported that 55 patients and 72 companions were evacuated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 31.
