Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, confirmed that 85% of the population in Gaza have become displaced, and 100% are suffering from food insecurity.
According to the American channel “Al Hurra,” Borrell’s statements came after his meeting with officials from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to discuss the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
Borrell explained that the Gaza Strip is receiving less than half of the trucks that used to enter before the war.
The situation in Gaza since the recent conflict has been extremely dire. According to Al Jazeera, as of early January 2024, the death toll in Gaza has reached approximately 23,167 Palestinians, while around 1,139 people have been killed in Israel since the conflict began on October 7, 2023. The situation is described as becoming ‘uninhabitable’ by a UN official, with heavy bombardments reported near Deir el-Balah, including at the Nuseirat, al-Maghazi, and al-Bureij refugee camps. Israeli forces have been urging residents to evacuate south.
The extensive damage includes more than half of Gaza’s homes being destroyed or damaged, affecting around 355,000 residential units. Additionally, 370 educational facilities, 23 out of 36 hospitals, 104 ambulances, and 203 places of worship have been damaged or are not functioning. This situation has significantly impacted the lives of the people in Gaza, leading to widespread despair and devastation.
The conflict has also seen a high number of journalist casualties, with at least 87 journalists, mostly Palestinians, killed since the war began. This includes casualties from drone strikes and other attacks. Furthermore, the region’s infrastructure, including hospitals and refugee camps, has been heavily targeted and damaged, worsening the humanitarian crisis.