UN reports that Gazans displaced by the Israel-Gaza conflict are currently residing in the open

According to Juliette Touma from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, many displaced Gazans are currently living in parks and out in the open. The UN's humanitarian office, OCHA, has reported that at least 100,000 people have fled to Rafah, which borders Egypt in the south of Gaza, in recent days. UNRWA has been authorized to bring in limited assistance, but the humanitarian needs in Gaza have significantly increased. Israel has stated that it is not limiting aid, and the issue lies with the distribution of aid. However, Touma has said that UNRWA is facing restrictions in accessing the areas in Gaza where assistance is needed. Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas's attack on October 7th, which resulted in numerous casualties and hostages. Access to humanitarian aid has been heavily controlled since the beginning of the war. Initially, Israeli forces focused their attacks on northern Gaza, but they have since targeted Khan Younis in the south, which they believe to be a Hamas stronghold. The recent wave of displacement to Rafah is due to intense fighting in Khan Younis and other areas in Gaza. Tom White, UNRWA's Gaza director, has stated that there are well over a million people seeking safety in Rafah, with no spots left in shelters for hundreds of thousands of individuals. As a result, many people are sleeping in the open under flimsy pieces of plastic due to overcrowding. According to UNRWA's latest report, up to 1.9 million people have been displaced across Gaza since the start of the war. Gun battles between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters have been reported in Khan Younis, Nuseirat refugee camp, Maghazi, and al-Bureij. The Israel Defense Forces have warned that the main north-south road in Gaza, Salah al-Din, is dangerous and difficult to access due to the ongoing conflict. The health ministry run by Hamas has reported that more than 21,672 people have been killed and 56,165 Palestinians injured since the start of Israel's offensive. Additionally, the World Health Organization has raised concerns about the spread of infectious diseases among Gaza's displaced population. The number of diseases in Gaza has increased between mid-October and mid-December, with cases of diarrhea, lice and scabies, and meningitis reported in UN shelters.