Over 462,000 Gazans Flee South Amid Mounting Challenges, UN Agencies Step Up Aid
An estimated 462,000 people have crossed from south Gaza to the north this week, following the reopening of Salah ad Din and Al Rashid roads. The United Nations (UN) and its humanitarian partners have been assisting those making the journey by providing critical supplies, including water, high-energy biscuits, and medical care along the routes.
Upon returning to the north, UN aid workers have witnessed residents clearing debris with shovels and setting up makeshift shelters or tents in place of their destroyed homes.
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Impending Catastrophe
Juliette Touma, UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Director of Communications, has warned that any disruption to the agency’s operations could have “catastrophic consequences on the lives and futures of Palestine refugees.” For decades, UNRWA has delivered essential services such as free healthcare and education to these communities.
The situation worsened last October after the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, passed two laws targeting UNRWA’s operations. The laws banned Israeli authorities from engaging with the agency and ordered UNRWA to vacate all premises in occupied East Jerusalem by January 30. The move follows Israeli allegations that some UNRWA workers were involved in the attacks on October 7 that escalated the Gaza conflict. A UN investigation led to the dismissal of nine staff members for potential involvement.
Despite these challenges, Ms. Touma emphasized UNRWA’s commitment to continuing its services across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, even as its own staff face displacement and personal risks.
She also noted that no formal communication has been received from Israeli authorities regarding the implementation of the ban across these territories.
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No Alternative for Palestine Refugees
“In the absence of a durable solution, Palestine refugees will continue to rely on UNRWA for basic services, including health and education,” Ms. Touma stated. In Gaza, already devastated by the ongoing war, these services are essential for sheer survival.
UNRWA health centers remain operational in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, with schools scheduled to reopen after a brief break. The agency serves about 50,000 children across the West Bank, underscoring the critical role it plays in maintaining education amid the crisis.
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Aid Operations Intensify
The World Food Programme (WFP) has ramped up its operations in Gaza, including plans to establish more aid distribution points in the north, where all bakeries have resumed functioning. Together with UNRWA, WFP has distributed food parcels to roughly 350,000 people since the ceasefire began on January 19. Additionally, 20,000 hot meals are being distributed daily in Beit Lahia, located in northern Gaza.
However, WFP has highlighted the urgent need for non-food supplies, such as “dual-use” items, to support Gaza’s recovery.
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Ongoing Medical Emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that only 18 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are partially operational, alongside just 57 of 142 primary healthcare centers and 11 field hospitals. The health crisis is particularly severe in northern Gaza, where only 10 hospitals are partially functional.
“The ceasefire has allowed us to scale up aid,” said Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. However, with 450,000 people now in northern Gaza, healthcare resources are stretched thin. He also noted that between 12,000 and 14,000 individuals require specialized medical care outside of Gaza.
The global health community is urging the restoration of traditional medical referral pathways to facilities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are ready to receive critical patients.
Meanwhile, sustained violence in the West Bank has displaced almost all residents of the Jenin refugee camp. Additionally, over 110 families have been forced to flee from Tulkarm following Israeli security operations.
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Allegations of Hostages Held in UNRWA Facilities
Controversy deepened on Friday when a recently freed hostage claimed she was held in an UNRWA facility by Hamas during her captivity. Emily Damari, who had been held for 15 months and sustained severe injuries, stated that Hamas repeatedly denied her medical care despite her dire condition.
Juliette Touma responded to these allegations, underscoring the seriousness of such claims. She noted that most UNRWA buildings were repurposed as shelters at the onset of the war. The agency has consistently called for independent investigations into allegations of misuse of its premises by armed groups, including Hamas.
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The escalating crisis in Gaza highlights the urgent need for international support and solutions. UN agencies and aid workers continue to serve under extreme conditions, providing lifesaving assistance to those most in need. However, without political and humanitarian breakthroughs,
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