On Monday, the United Nations emphasized the extensive nature of the Israeli military’s evacuation orders in the Gaza Strip, which now affect nearly 86% of the enclave.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric reported during a news conference that the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has raised concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, exacerbated by repeated waves of displacement, overcrowding, insecurity, deteriorating infrastructure, ongoing hostilities, and limited access to essential services.
Dujarric noted that the most recent evacuation order, issued on Saturday, has impacted approximately 13,500 displaced Palestinians across 18 locations. This order encompasses the entire Al-Maghazi refugee camp and several neighborhoods in the central Deir al-Balah region of Gaza.
Initial assessments indicate that the newly designated evacuation areas include five school buildings, 14 water sanitation and health facilities, and 10 health sites, which consist of two primary health care centers and five medical points.
Since October, evacuation orders have been issued for 86% of the Gaza Strip, covering roughly 314 square kilometers (over 121 square miles). Dujarric highlighted that this has led to a significant concentration of people in a designated zone in the southern area of Al-Mawasi, where population density has surged to between 30,000 and 34,000 individuals per square kilometer.
In conjunction with these updates, Dujarric conveyed a message from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in observance of World Humanitarian Day, emphasizing the efforts of humanitarian aid workers who are striving to alleviate the suffering of those in need worldwide. He noted that 2023 has been the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel. Dujarric pointed out that humanitarian workers in Gaza, Sudan, and other regions are facing attacks, injuries, and abductions alongside the civilians they aim to support.
Guterres called for an end to attacks on all aid workers and civilians, stating, “Celebrating humanitarians is not enough. We must all do more to protect and safeguard our common humanity.”