The United Nations made known that over 260,000 individuals have been compelled to evacuate their residences in the Gaza Strip, as heavy Israeli bombardments from the air, land, and sea persist in targeting the Palestinian enclave.
The report further stated that the intense conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life on both sides since Hamas initiated a sudden attack on Saturday, leading to Israel’s retaliatory bombing campaign.
“Over 263,934 people in Gaza are believed to have fled their homes,” said UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in an update Tuesday, warning that “this number is expected to rise further”.
It was reported that before Saturday, approximately 3,000 individuals had already been forced to leave their homes due to earlier escalations.
“More than 1,000 people have been killed in Israel in the worst attack in the country’s 75-year history, while Gaza officials have reported 900 people killed since the air strikes began,” the UN added.
According to Palestinian authorities, the bombing campaign has resulted in the destruction of over 1,000 residential units, with an additional 560 left in such severe disrepair that they are now uninhabitable, as reported by OCHA.
“Among the displaced, nearly 175,500 people sought shelter in 88 schools run by the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.”
“More than 14,500 others had fled to 12 government schools, while close to 74,000 were estimated to be staying with relatives and neighbors or seeking shelters in churches and other facilities.”
The count of individuals displaced within Gaza “represents the highest number of people displaced since the 50-day escalation of hostilities in 2014,” it said.
“Meeting basic needs is becoming increasingly challenging for those who have not been displaced,” OCHA warned.
Israel has imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip, restricting the flow of essential supplies such as food, water, fuel, and electricity. This UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, made known that this move is likely to worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.