UN Refugee Agency Urges Immediate Action as Gaza Faces Severe Displacement and Destruction

UN Refugee Agency Urges Immediate Action as Gaza Faces Severe Displacement and Destruction

File photo via Anadolu Agency

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) issued a grave warning on Friday regarding the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by over 15 months of intense conflict.

According to the agency, Israel’s ongoing war has left nearly 1.9 million people displaced, compounding the already dire situation for Gaza’s residents.

In its situation report 156, the UNRWA revealed that "at least 1.9 million people have been displaced in Gaza due to the war," with many forced to seek shelter in temporary and overcrowded accommodations. Among the most affected areas is Al-Mawasi, located in the southwest of Gaza, where people have been left to survive in makeshift conditions.

"Most homes are either completely destroyed or uninhabitable," the agency added, underscoring the long road to recovery. "Rebuilding infrastructure and lives, and addressing the trauma will take years," it continued, stressing the long-term implications of the destruction caused by the conflict.

As the first phase of a ceasefire agreement went into effect on January 19, the UNRWA immediately mobilized its efforts to deliver vital food aid to those in need, particularly in northern Gaza. "Living among the rubble left by months of intense bombardment, people are in dire need of this life-saving assistance," said the UN Agency.

The UNRWA plays a critical role in providing humanitarian aid at a scale that the region desperately requires, as its teams continue working around the clock to help alleviate the suffering of Gaza's displaced population.

The ceasefire, which entered its initial six-week phase on January 19, temporarily halted the violence that has already claimed nearly 47,300 Palestinian lives, with the vast majority being women and children. The conflict has also left more than 111,500 people injured since the fighting began on October 7, 2023.

This truce agreement, which includes provisions for a prisoner swap, aims to establish sustained peace and eventually lead to a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, with the widespread devastation and the ongoing humanitarian emergency, the path to recovery remains uncertain.

Gaza’s residents are struggling in the aftermath of Israel's military onslaught, which has reduced much of the enclave to rubble. The population, already grappling with displacement, hunger, and a lack of basic services, now faces heightened risks of disease and further suffering.

Short Link : https://prc.org.uk/en/news/6903