Humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens as evacuation orders displace thousands amid escalating conflict

Palestinians are evacuating the Bureiji and Nuseirat refugee camps in central Gaza under new orders from the Israeli army. Those orders now cover 86 percent of Gaza, leaving only 14 percent of the area exempt from evacuation orders, according to the UN Palestine Refugee Agency.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical point, with only 14 per cent of the territory not under an evacuation order. The United Nations Office for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East confirmed this harsh figure and highlighted the large-scale displacement of civilians during ongoing military operations.

The latest evacuation orders have caused mass movements from the Bureiji and Nuseirat refugee camps in central Gaza. The situation on the ground continues to deteriorate as the Israeli military increases its operations in response to recent escalations. Tanks pushed deeper into the southern Gaza towns of Rafah and Khan Younis, where fierce fighting reportedly took place between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants.

Israel’s security cabinet has authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to formulate a response to a recent rocket attack that killed 12 people, including children, in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel blamed Lebanon’s Hezbollah for the attack, although the group denied involvement.

The toll of the conflict was devastating. According to recent reports, the death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 39,363, with 90,923 injured. The situation remains dire for the civilian population as they face incessant shelling and ground attacks. The ongoing conflict began with the October 7 attacks led by Hamas, which left an estimated 1,139 people dead and more than 200 kidnapped in Israel.

As the violence escalates, the international community views it with growing concern. Diplomatic efforts to defuse the situation have so far yielded no significant results. The scale of displacement in Gaza, where the majority of the population has now been ordered to evacuate, underlines the urgent need for humanitarian aid and a ceasefire.

Instability in the region continues to pose serious challenges to peace and security, and the potential for further escalation is always present. The plight of civilians caught in the crossfire remains a critical issue and requires immediate international intervention to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of those affected by the conflict.