Israeli forces continue with evacuation orders in various areas of Gaza, especially in the north, causing new massive displacements of an extremely vulnerable population. As a result, thousands of residents are forced to leave their homes in search of safety, which is becoming increasingly scarce in the region.
The UNICEF has expressed concern over this situation, highlighting that tens of thousands of civilians, including numerous children, are moving southward. This area is facing issues of overcrowding, pollution, and a lack of essential basic services for survival, further exacerbating the living conditions of the displaced population.
Adele Khodr, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East, has warned of the “devastating consequences” of these displacements. The situation is critical for the most vulnerable, such as premature babies in need of incubators, and children requiring intensive care. The constant bombardments and restrictions on accessing humanitarian aid are having a severe impact, especially on the child population. Khodr has emphasized that minors are being condemned to unimaginable suffering, horror, and death.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has requested support from the World Health Organization (WHO) for the transfer of critical patients in hospitals. The WHO, through its representative for the occupied Palestinian territories, has expressed concerns for the safety of patients and healthcare personnel due to the intensification of hostilities and evacuation orders in critical hospitals such as Kamal Adwan, Al-Awda, and Indonesia.
The WHO has urged the implementation of measures to protect civilians and healthcare, including the safety of medical personnel and the integrity of hospitals and ambulances.
On the other hand, the second phase of a polio vaccination campaign is set to begin on October 14, targeting the immunization of nearly 591,700 children under ten years old. This campaign, involving fixed and mobile teams and awareness-raising activities, aims to overcome the challenges brought by the population displacements in Gaza.
The personnel of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) claim to be prepared to carry out the vaccination, although they acknowledge the complications of operating in severely damaged infrastructure. In the first phase of the vaccination, it was estimated that 75% of the cold chain was destroyed, which increases the challenges for humanitarian aid.
The situation not only affects Gaza but also Lebanon, where Israeli bombings have intensified, causing thousands of displacements and rescue operations, worsening the humanitarian situation. The spokesperson for the UN Office of Human Rights has highlighted that thousands of civilians have died and over a million have been displaced from their homes.
As this unfolds, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, urging the protection of peacekeeping forces and the respect for international humanitarian law. In this context, the numbers are alarming: since October 2023, nearly 2,000 deaths have been reported in the region, including 400 women and children, and over a million people have had to leave their homes.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
