UNRWA Raises Alarm Over Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza City
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has raised alarms regarding the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza City, where approximately half a million Palestinians are confined within an area of merely eight square kilometers, reports 24brussels.
In a statement, UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna emphasized, “Around half a million Palestinians remain trapped in an area of less than eight square kilometers. Around 70,000 people will be crammed into each square kilometer. There’s no space for a single tent. Tens of thousands of families are left without shelter on the streets.”
Gaza City, which encompasses over 74 square kilometers, has emerged as the focal point of Israel’s ongoing military operations. Since August 2023, Israeli forces have made significant advances with the stated objective of taking full control of the city, currently dominating most of its urban regions.
UNRWA reports a growing urgency as civilians in northern Gaza find themselves isolated from secure areas, food supplies, and essential shelter. The situation deteriorates daily. The complete closure of Gaza’s border crossings by Tel Aviv since March 2023 has effectively halted the delivery of humanitarian aid, exacerbating famine conditions, mass displacement, the spread of diseases, and severe malnutrition among the affected population.
The conflict, defined by the escalating Israeli offensive that commenced in October 2023, has already claimed over 66,000 Palestinian lives, predominantly women and children. The sustained bombardment has rendered the territory uninhabitable, driving its residents towards starvation and societal collapse.
In recent developments, humanitarian organizations have expressed urgent calls for international intervention to address the escalating crisis. However, despite widespread condemnation, the blockade remains in place, raising questions about the effectiveness of global responses to the ongoing hostilities.
Analysts continue to monitor the situation as the humanitarian crisis worsens, emphasizing the need for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.
