Over 60 days of Israeli bombardment, the Gaza Strip, which is home to 2.3 million people, has experienced extensive devastation, including the destruction of its previously designated 'safe zone' in the southern region. The impact has been severe, resulting in the loss of lives and displacement of thousands of civilians.
As reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry, the toll from the relentless war stands at a staggering 16,248 casualties, comprising 7,112 children and 4,885 women. The seven-day ceasefire witnessed Hamas releasing 110 hostages in exchange for the freedom of 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
The conclusion of the temporary ceasefire marked the initiation of another Israeli offensive in the southern Gaza Strip, triggering mass displacements. Civilians fled to areas in the west and south of Gaza's main southern city, Khan Younis, only to encounter shelters beyond capacity and shortages of basic necessities.
The battle for control over Khan Younis has overshadowed humanitarian conditions, with Israeli forces issuing evacuation orders for Palestinian civilians to move from northern Gaza to the south. Encircling northern Gaza with ground forces, the Israeli air force dropped leaflets with digital codes in eastern areas of Khan Younis, urging people to evacuate for their safety.
However, given the displacement of the majority of Gaza's residents, facing shortages of electricity and internet access, it raises uncertainty about how many can receive digital evacuation orders. Khan Younis, now accommodating at least four hundred thousand people displaced from the north, is grappling with severe overcrowding, food shortages, and limited water access.
The newly displaced seek refuge in makeshift tent camps near universities, colleges, and other areas. Shortages of critical supplies, exacerbated by restrictions on aid trucks entering Gaza from Egypt, worsen the humanitarian crisis. Despite some fuel allocation in the southern region post-ceasefire, challenges persist, impacting food distribution, generator use in crucial facilities, and access to clean water.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), water supply disparities persist, with two active pipelines from Israel delivering potable water to southern Gaza, while the northern region faces inactivity in the primary desalination plant and Israeli pipelines. This prolonged water supply restriction poses significant risks, including dehydration and the spread of waterborne diseases due to the consumption of unsafe water.
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