UN: Gazans Struggle to Survive Amid Ongoing Military Operations

(MENAFN) Intensifying military operations in northern Gaza, coupled with forced displacement and a severe shortage of basic services, are leaving Gazans struggling to survive, UN humanitarian officials warned on Tuesday.

Since Israel issued fresh evacuation orders for the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday, at least 1,500 families have been forced to flee their homes, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing information from local partners.

Reports indicate that five school buildings, which were sheltering displaced families in the northern Gaza area, were struck, resulting in both fatalities and injuries. Initial evaluations by OCHA’s partners suggest that many families who had fled the schools after the attack have returned to the area, largely due to the lack of viable alternatives and the extreme scarcity of available shelter.

In addition to the destruction of civilian infrastructure, health care facilities are also under direct assault. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that on Monday, a tent sheltering displaced people at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah was hit, leaving five individuals injured. The agency added that the hospital’s internal medicine department also suffered damage, and its oxygen supply system was disrupted.

Since the latest phase of the Gaza conflict erupted in October 2023, WHO has reported 734 attacks on healthcare facilities in the region. The agency has repeatedly called for the protection of both civilians and medical institutions in Gaza.

OCHA further highlighted that movement restrictions continue to pose a major challenge for humanitarian workers, severely hampering efforts to deliver essential services. “Only eight out of 15 attempts to coordinate humanitarian movements inside Gaza were facilitated by the Israeli authorities, including to remove debris,” said OCHA. “Three other missions were outright denied, while two missions were impeded, and two others had to be canceled due to security or logistical challenges.”

The escalating situation underscores a growing humanitarian emergency in Gaza, with mounting obstacles to providing relief to those in desperate need.

MENAFN02072025000045017169ID1109750341