Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis Worsens as Thousands Flee Escalating Conflict

Tuesday 14 May 2024 - 07:55

As media reports detail airstrikes and clashes around Rafah and the Jabaliya refugee camp, a staggering 360,000 individuals have fled the southern Gaza city of Rafah since Israel issued an evacuation order last week, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The UN agency reports that the bombardments and additional evacuation orders have triggered further displacement and fear among thousands of families in the northern part of the Palestinian enclave.

These latest displacement figures come as media outlets note that fighting has been reported in southeast Rafah, with tank shells striking the center of the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza.

Catastrophic Damage

As Israeli strikes intensify across Gaza, leaving "no safe place," according to the UN Human Rights Office, UNRWA took to X (formerly Twitter), declaring, "There is nowhere to go. There is NO safety without a ceasefire."

UNRWA's previous report on Sunday cited more than 300,000 internally displaced persons, marking a surge of 60,000 new displacements within 24 hours.

Furthermore, the UN agency shared a video on X showing families and children returning to UNRWA schools in Khan Younis, seeking "safety and shelter." The facilities, which have already sustained damage, have incurred "considerable harm," UNRWA stated on X, adding that the city lacks access to water, signifying "a new level of despair unfolding before the world's eyes."

UN Staff Casualty and Injury

In a tragic turn of events, a staff member from the UN's Department of Safety and Security (DSS) was killed, and another injured when their UN vehicle was struck en route to the European Hospital in Rafah on Monday.

Condemning all attacks on UN personnel, Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a thorough investigation, according to his deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, addressing journalists in New York.

"As the conflict in Gaza continues to extract a heavy toll, not only on civilians but also on humanitarian workers, the Secretary-General reiterates his urgent call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all those held hostage," Haq stated.

When questioned by reporters, Haq indicated that the UN was still gathering information about the incident. He later confirmed that the slain security staff member was an international staff member, marking the first such casualty within the UN during the Gaza conflict.

Earlier on Monday, UNRWA announced that another staff member had been killed, bringing the total to 189. The 53-year-old Chief Programme Officer reportedly died in an Israeli strike in the central town of Deir Al Balah after leaving Rafah.

Northern Gaza Access Point Opened

These developments come as Tel Aviv announced on Sunday the opening of a new access point in northern Gaza. The Israeli military claims to have opened the "Erez West" [Beit Hanoon] crossing into northern Gaza to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid "in accordance with the directive of the Israeli government and in coordination with the US government."

However, this information has not been confirmed by UN humanitarian agencies. On X, UNRWA once again pleaded for safe access to the Palestinian enclave, warning, "We urgently need immediate safe passage for aid and humanitarian workers."