Gaza: Multiple air strikes kill dozens near UN aid centre as thousands flee fighting
Reports of airstrikes near a relief center in Deir Al-Balah came from the UN humanitarian office, OCHAUN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, who provided an update on the situation in the besieged enclave, said.
“The [aid] operations are still ongoing,” he told journalists at UN Headquarters. “But if there is an attack 100 metres from where you work, it only adds to the already overwhelming stress levels for our colleagues, not to mention the impact it has on civilians.” People are often killed in these attacks.“ .
Wave of displacement from northern Gaza
Gaza residents also continue to face multiple evacuation orders from the Israeli military after nine months of conflict sparked by Hamas-led terrorist attacks in multiple Israeli locations that have left some 1,200 people dead and more than 250 taken hostage.
Families have been joining the exodus from Gaza City to Deir Al-Balah, with more than 1,000 people crossing the border in the past week, mostly on donkey carts, motorbikes or cars, a UN spokesman said.
“Many of them told us they had to move dozens of times,” Mr. Dujarric added.
As a result, UN teams have been deployed along the route to provide water, hot meals, food and medical services to those fleeing Gaza City, he noted.
Chronic fuel shortage
Fuel shortages continue as needed to operate humanitarian services, he said.
“The lack of fuel continues to hamper the work of basic service providers, including hospitals, ambulances, bakeries and relief vehicles,” he said. “Over the past two weeks, we have been able to collect on average more than 80,000 litres of fuel per day.”
While this is an improvement from the previous daily average of 40,000 litres, Mr Dujarric said It does not achieve the required 400,000 liters per day..
He said Israeli authorities have yet to authorize fuel allocations to local humanitarian response forces, preventing them from delivering essential supplies within Gaza.
For its part, the United Nations received 10 flatbed trucks to deliver aid on Monday, Mr. Dujarric said.
Clinic brings hope
Despite enormous challenges, including shortages of medical supplies and medicines and the destruction of many clinics due to the war, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWAcontinue to provide vital health care services, working tirelessly to meet the growing health care needs of displaced people.
Because United Nations News, Ziad Taleb visited the agency’s clinic in Deir Al-Balah and met some of the displaced people there, highlighting the immense suffering they are experiencing.
Amid the spread of infectious diseases and difficult living conditions, UNRWA clinics remain a lifeline for many, providing free treatment and much-needed medical assistance.
Patients wait inside the UNRWA clinic in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza.
Situation ‘deteriorates significantly’
Inas Hamdan, UNRWA’s public information director, said displaced people in the Gaza Strip are living in extremely difficult living conditions.
“Things are getting worse by the day “The health situation is also dire as disease is spreading among the displaced, especially children,” she said.
Including skin diseases and viral hepatitis, in addition to gastrointestinal diseases and diarrhea.
“There are a number of factors that lead to this, First is the lack of medical supplies and medicines needed to treat such cases.“,” she explained. “The most important thing is the living conditions, lacking the most basic necessities of life inside tents or shelters. Most of these displaced people live in tents or shelters.”
Border closures are making it increasingly difficult to transport aid, including water and medical and hygiene supplies.
Free Service
Much of Gaza’s 2.3 million population relies heavily on UNRWA clinics. Ashraf Abu Maghsib, a displaced person from eastern Deir Al-Balah, explained that he visits UNRWA clinics because they provide free medication, unlike other pharmacies and clinics that charge high prices.
Hiba Hassanein, who was displaced from Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, said “we chose the agency’s clinic because it provides free treatment to all residents. We suffer from skin diseases, hepatitis and poor hygiene”.
Others have echoed that concern. Enas Othman, a displaced person from Jabalia in northern Gaza, said some of the most serious illnesses were skin-related, citing widespread mosquito populations and a lack of drinking water among the displaced. Indeed, saltwater causes many illnesses, she added.
“We are currently living in Al Mawasi area in Khan Younis, which is home to a lot of insects that are harmful to humans and spread diseases,” she said.
Lifeline for displaced people
More than 700 staff work in UNRWA’s health sector, spread across various health posts between displaced people and main clinics, where they have been providing continuous health services to displaced people for more than 10 months.
However, many UNRWA clinics in different areas of the Gaza Strip have ceased operations after being destroyed by war.
However, UNRWA clinics continue to provide lifelines to displaced people in Gaza amid ongoing medical shortages caused by the war.
