The United Nations has said that Israel’s latest ultimatum forcing exodus of Palestinians from parts of besieged Gaza City affected more than 60 schools sheltering displaced Palestinians, as well as two partially functional hospitals, six medical points and two primary health care centres.
Humanitarian officials report that staff and patients have fled hospitals in and around the Israel-threatened areas, and people who were already displaced are being forced to flee again, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
The UN humanitarian office also reports that active hostilities, damaged roads, access limitations and the lack of public order and safety continue to hamper movement along the main humanitarian cargo route from the Kerem Shalom [Karam Abu Salem] crossing to Khan Younis, and then to Deir al-Balah, Dujarric said.
He said this has resulted in critical food shortages, reduced food rations in central and southern Gaza last month, and the increasing risk of stranded supplies, especially food, spoiling in the heat.
Just three of the 18 bakeries that our humanitarian colleagues support in Gaza are still operational, all of them in Deir al-Balah, Dujarric said. Meanwhile, lack of fuel has forced nine bakeries that were working at partial capacity to completely cease their operations.
Maysa Saleh, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s education officer in Deir al-Balah, said in a statement that almost no aid has arrived over the last week or so, and food remains the number one worry.
