As Israel’s blockade disrupts the flow of essential resources to Gaza, UN shelters in the region are grappling with a dire water crisis.
UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma, as reported by AP, revealed that approximately half a million Gaza residents seeking refuge in UN shelters are rapidly running out of water. “Gaza is running dry,” she warned, further noting that UN teams have been forced to ration the remaining water supply.
Over the past 24 hours, a quarter of a million people in Gaza sought shelter, with the majority finding refuge in UN schools where “clean water has actually run out,” stated UNRWA spokeswoman Inas Hamdan, as cited in the AP report.
Israel has intensified its airstrikes in Gaza and has urged approximately one million residents in the north to relocate to the southern areas in anticipation of an impending attack.
Since the conflict erupted over the past weekend, the Gaza health ministry reports that more than 2,300 Palestinians have lost their lives.
Relief organizations have sounded alarms, calling for the protection of over 2 million Gaza civilians and pleading for the establishment of an emergency corridor to facilitate the delivery of vital humanitarian aid.
The escalating crisis has been exacerbated by the closure of Gaza’s borders, which has cut off the inflow of medical supplies from outside. Dr. Mohammed Qandeel of Nasser Hospital in the southern Khan Younis area expressed his concerns, emphasizing the high risks faced by patients reliant on ventilators and those suffering from severe blast injuries requiring constant care.
Reports from Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital indicate that at least 35,000 men, women, and children have sought refuge in the hospital’s open spaces, lobby, and hallways, seeking safety amidst the ongoing conflict.
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