Urgent Exodus: Gaza’s Escalating Displacement Crisis Amidst Conflict, Highlights of the noon briefing by Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General (excerpt on the crisis situation in Gaza) – 29 July 2024

29 July 2024

(Excerpt)

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OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs say more than 200,000 people – that is about nine per cent of Gaza’s current population – have now been displaced over the last week in the wake of evacuation orders issued by the IDF [Israeli Defence Force]. OCHA reports that tens of thousands of people continue to experience new waves of internal displacement across Gaza due to evacuation orders and ongoing hostilities.

Our humanitarian partners that are tracking population movements in Gaza estimate that new directives issued by Israeli authorities on Saturday and Sunday affected parts of Rafah, of Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, where a combined 56,000 people had been sheltering.
UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, says only 14 per cent of areas in Gaza are not under evacuation orders.
He added that these directives are creating havoc and panic, noting that people often have just a few hours to pack whatever they can and to try to start all over again in a place that is probably not safe as well.

Once again, we underscore that all parties to the conflict must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by taking constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects. This includes allowing civilians to leave for safer areas and allowing their return as soon as circumstances allow. People must be able to receive humanitarian assistance, whether they move or whether they choose to stay.  OCHA says this latest round of displacement comes at a time when water, sanitation and hygiene conditions are being further eroded in Gaza – with, as you know, reports of infectious diseases on the rise.

As you are aware, the polio virus was detected in wastewater earlier this month.

Though no cases have been recorded, it is crucial that conditions on the ground in Gaza enable aid organizations to respond quickly and at scale. That includes ensuring that children can receive vaccines. The World Health Organization announced last week that it is sending more than a million polio vaccines to Gaza.

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