Israel is regarding to expand its military ground operation in the city, according to the AP news agency. The Palestinians have been told to move out of new areas ahead of an Israeli advance.
– I have worked with major humanitarian crises most of the time in the last 30 years, and I have never been involved in a situation as devastating, complex and unpredictable as this, says Unicef’s emergency aid coordinator Hamish Young.
– The current situation in Gaza has reached hitherto unknown crisis levels, says Georgios Petropoulos, who represents the UN emergency aid office OCHA.
The two are both staying in Rafah and spoke to journalists in Geneva via video link on Friday.
They warn that the fuel is regarding to run out. Without new supplies, five large hospitals, 17 smaller hospitals, five field hospitals, ten mobile health teams and 28 ambulances will have to cease operations within hours, according to Petropoulos.
Young says the Israeli demands that people remove themselves from the areas have led to more than 100,000 leaving the region. The Al-Mawasi area near the coast, which Israel has declared a safe zone, is completely overcrowded, according to him.
Almost no supplies, and especially no fuel, have passed through the Kerem Shalom and Rafah border crossings in recent days, according to Petropoulos.
Fuel for generators is needed to keep hospitals, banks, communication equipment and drinking water facilities operating in the Gaza Strip.
– We need fuel immediately. The aid shipments must arrive. The hostages must be released. Rafah must not be invaded, and children must be protected, not killed, says Young.
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2024-05-11 15:59:44
