As Israeli bombardments continue to devastate the Gaza Strip, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) revealed that a staggering 338,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. The mass displacement across Gaza persists, with an additional 75,000 individuals fleeing within a 24-hour period, according to the OCHA.
Israeli forces have reported 1,200 casualties, with a majority of them being civilians, making it the deadliest onslaught in the country’s history. In contrast, officials in Gaza have reported more than 1,000 casualties due to Israel’s sustained campaign of air and artillery strikes.
The OCHA statement revealed that nearly 220,000 people, representing two-thirds of the displaced population, have sought shelter in schools operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). Another 15,000 people have taken refuge in schools run by the Palestinian Authority, while over 100,000 are seeking shelter with relatives, neighbors, in churches, and other facilities in Gaza City.
Prior to the Saturday attack, around 3,000 people had already been displaced within the enclave. The extensive bombing campaign has resulted in the destruction or rendering uninhabitable of at least 2,540 housing units in Gaza. An additional 22,850 housing units sustained moderate to minor damages.
The UN agency expressed alarm at the significant destruction of civilian infrastructure caused by the shelling. Notably, sewage facilities serving over a million people have been impacted by air strikes, leading to the accumulation of solid waste in the streets, posing a significant health threat.
The ongoing conflict has garnered international attention and concern, with calls for a peaceful resolution to the violence and the protection of civilians.