It has been estimated by the United Nations that about one million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced during the first week of the conflict. The agency has described the situation in the besieged enclave as “catastrophic”.
‘May humanitarian rights be respected’, says Pope
Pope Francis has asserted the need for humanitarian corridors to help the people in besieged Gaza.
He addressed a crowd of thousands in St. Peter’s Square during his weekly speech, “I forcefully ask that children, the sick, the elderly and women and all civilians do not become the victims of the conflict”.
“May humanitarian rights be respected, above all in Gaza, where it is urgent and necessary to guarantee humanitarian corridors to help the entire population,” he said.
The Vatican has also offered to mediate in the crisis.
Gaza ‘no longer able to provide humanitarian assistance’
Another alert has been issued. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) chief has warned that hundreds of thousands of people in need in Gaza will no longer be assisted.
“My UNRWA colleagues in Gaza are no longer able to provide humanitarian assistance.The UNRWA operations is the largest United Nations footprint in the Gaza Strip, and we are on the verge of collapse. This is absolutely unprecedented,” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told a press conference.
It was also notified that water and power supplies are depleting, and they will run out of food or medicine in a matter of time.
UNRWA facilities, including schools, are currently sheltering about 400,000 people in the south among whom, a large number is in need of assistance.
Additionally, the UN has reported that at least four hospitals in northern Gaza are now no longer operational as a result of Israeli bombings, whereas according to WHO, 21 other hospitals have been asked to be evacuated by Israel.
Persistent warnings are being given that “forced evacuation of hospitals may amount to a violation of international humanitarian law”.
50,000 pregnant women in Gaza deprived of health services
The UN has reported that 50,000 pregnant women in the Gaza Strip are without basic maternal medical help among whom 5,522 are due to give birth next month.
“Imagine going through that process in those final stages and your last trimester before giving birth, with possible complications, without clothing, without hygiene, support and not sure about what the next day, next hour, next minute will bring for themselves and for their unborn child,” United Nations Population Fund representative for Palestine, Dominic Allen said during her interview with CNN.
16 members of a single family killed in Israeli air raid
An Israeli air attack has reportedly killed a total of 16 members of a family, as stated by Palestinian territory’s media office.
Previously, Palestinian health ministry said 45 families have been entirely wiped out from the Gaza civil registry, which means that entire family trees and their potential legacy have perished.
At least 1,000 people under the rubble in Gaza
As the Israeli forces continue to bombard Gaza, more than 1,000 people remain missing under the building debris.
Among them are injured as well as dead, while many have been pulled alive after 24 hours of the collapse, says Palestinian civil defence team .
So far, more than 2,670 people have been killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza with at least 9,600 wounded.
199 Israeli captives taken by Hamas
Daniel Hagari, Israel’s army top spokesperson, has claimed that families of 199 people who were taken captive by Hamas have been notified by the military. The number of Israeli captives have reportedly increased from 155.
“We are making valiant efforts to try to understand where the hostages are in Gaza, and we have such information,” Hagari was quoted by Israeli media.
“We will not carry out an attack that would endanger our people,” he said.
