ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The United Nations has sounded an alarm, reporting that more than 260,000 individuals have been compelled to abandon their homes in the Gaza Strip.
The region has been subjected to relentless Israeli bombardments from air, land, and sea, causing widespread displacement.
The UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, disclosed on Tuesday, “Over 263,934 people in Gaza are believed to have fled their homes,” while cautioning that “this number is expected to rise further” as the conflict escalates.
The report also noted that approximately 3,000 people had been displaced due to previous escalations before the recent crisis, according to Punch.
The UN further revealed the human toll of the ongoing conflict, stating, “More than 1,000 people have been killed in Israel in the worst attack in the country’s 75-year history, while Gaza officials have reported 900 people killed since the air strikes began.”
The Israeli bombing campaign has wrought extensive destruction, including over 1,000 housing units and 560 structures severely damaged to the point of being uninhabitable, as confirmed by Palestinian authorities.
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A significant number of displaced individuals, nearly 175,500, have sought shelter in 88 schools run by the UN agency that supports Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
Additionally, more than 14,500 people have found refuge in 12 government schools, while approximately 74,000 have sought safety with relatives, neighbors, or in various facilities, including churches.
This surge in displaced individuals within Gaza marks the largest displacement since the 50-day hostilities in 2014, the report stated.
OCHA emphasized the growing challenges faced by those who remain in the conflict-stricken region, warning that meeting basic needs is becoming increasingly difficult for those who have not been displaced.
In response to the situation, Israel has imposed what it terms a “complete siege” on the already blockaded Gaza Strip, leading to a severe shortage of food, water, fuel, and electricity.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has cautioned that this move will exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in the area.