Thousands of Gazans flee under Israel’s evacuation order: UN

People flee from the eastern districts of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 8, 2024. Following a new evacuation order issued by the Israeli authorities, UN humanitarians said on Thursday its partners reported thousands of Gazans again fleeing parts of the Khan Younis area, west, toward Al Mawasi. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) — Following a new evacuation order issued by the Israeli authorities, UN humanitarians said on Thursday its partners reported thousands of Gazans again fleeing parts of the Khan Younis area, west, toward Al Mawasi.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the directive affects people in eastern and central Khan Younis and the Al Salqa area of Deir al Balah.
“Initial estimates from our partners monitoring population in movements in Gaza indicate that more than 15,500 people had been living in those areas, which comprise more than 30 neighborhoods,” OCHA said. “We call for all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by taking constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects.”
The office said the appeal also includes allowing civilians to leave for safer areas and allowing their return as soon as circumstances permit. People must be able to receive humanitarian assistance, whether they move or stay.
OCHA warned that constraints on water production and sewage pumping in Gaza continue to expose Palestinians to significant health risks. The lack of generators and alternative energy sources and shortages of spare parts to operate existing generators hamper efforts to scale up the water, sanitation and hygiene response.
Another major challenge, the humanitarians said, is the need for more fuel. Last month, partners working to support water, sanitation and hygiene services in Gaza reported they received just over 75,000 liters of fuel. This is about a 29 percent increase compared to June, but it is still only 70 percent of the minimum operational threshold.
The World Food Programme (WFP) warned that hostilities, damaged roads, and the lack of public order and safety severely hamper food transport operations in Gaza, forcing reduced rations. WFP urgently needs fuel deliveries, an increased flow of food supplies and a greater capacity to deliver hot meals, particularly in Gaza City and North Gaza.
The agency said that while it reached 1 million people in Gaza in July, food distribution points continue to face major disruptions due to conflict, evacuation orders and damage to infrastructure.
WFP warned it would be unable to bring in the quantity of food required this month unless more border crossing points into Gaza open and aid workers are able to reach people safely and at scale. The agency could only bring in half the food needed last month.
In the West Bank, WFP estimateed the escalation of violence there could push the number of people facing food insecurity up to at least 600,000. At the start of last year, 352,000 people in the West Bank were food insecure. ■

A woman flees from the eastern districts of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 8, 2024. Following a new evacuation order issued by the Israeli authorities, UN humanitarians said on Thursday its partners reported thousands of Gazans again fleeing parts of the Khan Younis area, west, toward Al Mawasi. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

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