Khan Younis: Gaza City Struggles as Hunger Mounts for One Million Residents

A large number of people have arrived in Khan Younis, fleeing from the north using any means possible. However, the city was not prepared for such a sudden increase in population. Every room, alley, and street is crowded with men, women, and children, and there is nowhere else for them to go. According to Hamas, 400,000 people from northern Gaza have arrived in Khan Younis in the past two days following Israel's evacuation orders. I was among them, along with my family and limited food supplies. Many people disregarded Hamas's orders to stay put due to the threat of Israeli bombs and invasion. However, in this small, besieged strip of land, options for relocation are limited. Safety is not guaranteed. The influx of Gazans, many of whom were already displaced due to bombings, has overwhelmed the city. Khan Younis, which is normally inhabited by only 400,000 people, has now increased to over a million overnight. Resources are quickly running out, leaving the city exhausted and on the verge of collapse. The main hospital, already lacking essential supplies, has become a refuge for the injured and sick. Refugees line the corridors while doctors treat casualties from Israeli bombings. Hospitals are considered safe places during wars, protected by international law. However, despite seeking refuge, those arriving from the north face shortages of basic necessities. They are crammed into already crowded homes and schools, with no personal space. The situation is catastrophic, with little food, fuel, or water available. The city is constantly bombed, and the sound of rocket launches and Israeli drones is a constant reminder of the ongoing conflict. The invasion has not even started, but people are already struggling to survive. This is an unprecedented situation in Gaza, where starvation and thirst are becoming real possibilities. The only way out of Gaza, through the Rafah crossing into Egypt, remains closed. Opening the crossing would likely result in chaos, as seen in 2014 when thousands of people attempted to escape the war. Egypt fears that once the crossing is opened, it will be overwhelmed with a flood of humanity, leading to catastrophe and chaos once again.