A dire situation unfolds in Gaza as nearly 600,000 internally displaced people seek refuge in 150 facilities managed by the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), according to a Wednesday post on the social media platform X.
The UN agency reports that these shelters are operating at four times their capacities, forcing many individuals to resort to sleeping in the streets due to overwhelming demand.
Adding to the crisis, at least 40 UNRWA installations have been impacted by the ongoing conflict.
Since October 7, over 100 Palestinians have lost their lives in clashes with the Israeli military in the West Bank, as reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry.
The conflict has taken a devastating toll on Gaza, prompting an intensified bombing campaign by Israel in the southern region. This escalation follows one of the deadliest days for Palestinians since the conflict began.
Global leaders are urging a cessation of hostilities to facilitate the delivery of aid to the besieged enclave.
Both the United States and Russia are leading international calls for a pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas, emphasizing the urgent need to provide aid to Gaza’s population living in harrowing conditions.
The health ministry in Gaza, under the control of Hamas, reported a staggering toll on Tuesday, with 704 Palestinians, including 305 children, losing their lives.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs described this toll as the highest reported in a single day since the conflict began nearly three weeks ago.
The unfolding humanitarian crisis underscores the pressing need for international intervention to alleviate the suffering of the affected population.