UN: Intensifying the attack on Gaza City will push civilians to a deeper disaster
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The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the ongoing intensification of the offensive on Gaza City, amidst the ongoing famine, will push civilians deeper into a catastrophe. Citing staff supporting displacement sites, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said, “The escalation of hostilities in Gaza City is having horrific humanitarian consequences for people living in these sites,” many of whom were previously displaced from northern Gaza. They added that many families are unable to relocate due to high costs and a lack of safe spaces, with the elderly and people with disabilities particularly affected. Dujarric cited humanitarian partners as saying that between August 14 and 31, more than 82,000 new displacements were recorded, including 30,000 people displaced from the north to the south. They described conditions in these displacement sites as dire, with rubble and waste accumulating near or within residential areas. Partners added that high temperatures have exacerbated these unsanitary conditions, leading to widespread rodent and insect infestations. As a result, health risks are increasing, with children developing skin rashes. Dujarric said that water supplies are insufficient, leading to significant congestion around distribution points, making it difficult for the most vulnerable and needy to access water. He added that water trucks are often unable to reach displacement sites, forcing families to travel long distances to collect water.
