Residential areas are under attack, hospitals have been ordered evacuated and electricity remains cut off, United Nations Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Monday, citing a report from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. (OCHA).
“As intense bombing and ground activity in the north continues, Medical facilities and other essential services are at risk of shutting down. Bakeries have closed, workers and their families have been displaced,” he told journalists at a regular briefing in New York.
“No fuel or commercial goods are allowedand aid workers can only carry small amounts of humanitarian aid through Israeli checkpoints in the northern regions.”
Southern Gaza is completely overwhelmed
Those fleeing northern Gaza have few options because southern Gaza is already overcrowded, polluted and completely lacking in basic services.
“Southern Gaza is completely overwhelmed and cannot accommodate more people”, Mr. Dujarric said.
As of Monday morning, more than 50,000 Palestinians, including women and children, were displaced in northern Gaza, along with several patients evacuated from hospitals in the affected area.
“Many others in the north, especially in Jabalya camp, are trapped in their homes, unable to leave safely. So far, very few families have crossed Wadi Gaza to the South,” he added.
Mr. Dujarric noted that United Nations agencies, along with humanitarian partners, are closely monitoring the movements of people and providing displaced families with essential assistance where possible. .
However, OCHA emphasized that evacuation orders will have no effect on civilians if they have no safe place to go or shelter, food, medicine or drinking water, he said.
Aid workers were also forced to rely on a single, unsafe road allocated by Israeli authorities to transport goods from the Kerem Shalom intersection, he added, while facing hostile conditions. and armed, violent looting, fueled by the collapse of public order and safety.
Buildings reduced to rubble in a neighborhood in south Beirut.
Situation in Lebanon
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, health services have been severely affected since tensions escalated following the October 7 attack last year by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on communities in southern Israel.
Between October 8, 2023 and October 4, 2024, at least 96 primary health care centers and three hospitals were forced to close due to conflict, with at least 77 medical staff believed to be was killed while on duty.
“Our medical partners are supporting Lebanese health authorities and providing additional emergency and trauma kits to hospitals. They are also providing medicine,” Mr. Dujarric told journalists at the same press conference.
Water infrastructure was also affected, with at least 25 water facilities damaged, affecting 300,000 people.
“We and our partners are providing hundreds of thousands of liters of drinking water to people in mass shelters,” he added.
The shift continues
He also noted that displacement orders continued, especially from south Lebanon and the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut.
According to the United Nations International Organization for Migration, more than 540,000 people have been displaced since October 8 last year.
In response, United Nations agencies and partners continue to support those in need, providing more than 500,000 hot meals since September 23 as well as other essential supplies.
“We and our partners, working closely with the Government of Lebanon, continue to lead and coordinate relief efforts for displaced and affected people.”, Mr. Dujarric said.
He also highlighted the Flash Appeal launched last week, aiming to provide one million people with lifesaving and protective items. However, as of Monday, the appeal was only 12% funded and had received just $53 million..
“We urge donors to give. Give cash and give it quickly.”
