Posted on 24 July 2024
The conflict in Gaza has intensified with fresh Israeli airstrikes reported in the southern and central regions. On Monday, UN humanitarians and partners continued to treat victims of a deadly strike on Al Mawasi in southwest Gaza, which occurred on Saturday and reportedly left at least 90 dead and around 300 injured. The Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, overwhelmed by the influx of severe cases, struggled to provide adequate care due to a lack of beds, hygiene equipment, and essential medical supplies. Scott Anderson, Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator and Director of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, described the harrowing scenes, noting that many patients were treated on the ground without disinfectants, and ventilation systems were turned off due to electricity and fuel shortages.
The situation has been further aggravated by strikes on UNRWA schools-turned-shelters, with at least 17 people killed in an attack on a school in Nuseirat refugee camp on Sunday. Two other UNRWA schools were hit last week, bringing the total number of the agency’s facilities struck since the conflict began to 190. The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported dreadful conditions in informal shelter sites at Al Bureij and Al Maghazi refugee camps, where thousands of people are living without basic necessities.
Photo by Alisdare Hickson via flickr