The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) issued a pressing call on Saturday, urging Israel to ensure the safety of all civilians taking shelter in Gaza as the Israeli military prepares for a ground assault.
This statement came after the expiration of Israel’s deadline for approximately 1.1 million civilians to evacuate the northern part of Gaza, in anticipation of a major advancement by Israeli ground forces.
According to UNRWA, the agency’s shelters in Gaza and the northern region are no longer safe. The agency emphasized that in accordance with the rules of warfare, civilians, hospitals, schools, clinics, and United Nations facilities should not be targeted.
UNRWA is actively engaging with the relevant parties involved in the conflict, advocating for their adherence to international law in protecting civilians, especially those seeking refuge in UNRWA shelters.
The agency pointed out that vulnerable individuals, including pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, may not be able to flee south and therefore must be protected at all times.
In the ongoing aerial offensive on Gaza, over 2,200 Palestinians have lost their lives, while Israel has reported 1,300 casualties due to attacks by Hamas.
On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his concern over the evacuation order, stating that it would have devastating humanitarian consequences for civilians in Gaza.
Guterres urged the international community to unite in upholding the fundamental principle of protecting civilians and working towards finding a lasting solution to end the cycle of death and destruction.
Furthermore, an UNRWA school in Gaza, acting as a shelter for more than 225 displaced people, was directly hit and suffered severe damages. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties.
The World Health Organization (WHO) sent a plane carrying life-saving health supplies to Egypt, which will be transported into Gaza once access to the enclave is established.
The shipment includes trauma medicines, essential healthcare supplies, and equipment capable of treating around 1,200 individuals who have been injured during the bombing raids, as well as 1,500 chronically ill patients.
Basic health supplies to meet the needs of 300,000 others, including pregnant women, are also included in the cargo.
Since hospitals in Gaza are either non-operational or overwhelmed, these supplies will play a critical role in saving the lives of the wounded, wherever they find refuge.