DaysofPal- The United Nations’ humanitarian agency (OCHA) reports that over 142,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced since Israel resumed its military offensive on Gaza on March 18.
In a statement, OCHA highlighted the dire conditions faced by displaced individuals, many of whom have fled with little more than a few personal belongings.
“Fleeing with only a few personal items, many people are now staying on the streets, in desperate need of food, drinking water, and shelter essentials,” the agency said.
The primary drivers behind this displacement are Israel’s evacuation orders and the destruction of homes and critical infrastructure. Since the resumption of hostilities, the Israeli military has issued six displacement orders, affecting around 15% of the Gaza Strip.
OCHA estimates that roughly 250,000 people are currently living in areas marked for evacuation, including in Rafah, Khan Younis, and northern Gaza. Among these, more than 50,000 are sheltering in 240 internally displaced person (IDP) sites.
The displacement crisis escalated following additional Israeli military orders. Between March 20 and 24, five more evacuation orders were issued, directing residents to evacuate to the Al Mawasi area and designated shelters.
OCHA’s reports indicate that, as of March 2024, the Gaza Strip has seen at least 1.9 million internally displaced people, with nine out of ten residents displaced multiple times.
The human toll of Israel’s renewed offensive is staggering. Since March 18, more than 750 Palestinians have been killed, and at least 1,400 others have been injured, with the majority of the casualties being women and children.
Gaza’s Health Ministry has confirmed at least 50,144 deaths and 113,704 injuries since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023. The death toll has been updated by Gaza’s Government Media Office to over 61,700, with thousands more people thought to have perished beneath the debris.
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