In a statement issued by UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, he renewed calls for urgent measures to protect civilians and ensure safe humanitarian access in the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip.

"Once again, nearly half of the population of Rafah or 800,000 people are on [roads]," Lazzarini conveyed in a post on the social media platform X on Saturday.

According to Lazzarini, following evacuation orders instructing residents to flee to designated safe zones, many sought refuge in the central areas of Gaza and Khan Younis, often taking shelter in destroyed buildings.

However, he highlighted the dire conditions faced by those displaced, emphasizing the lack of safe water supplies and sanitation facilities in the areas they fled to.

Lazzarini specifically mentioned the al-Mawassi area, describing it as "a sandy 14 square kilometer agricultural land, where people are left out in the open with little to no buildings or roads," underscoring the inadequate conditions for emergency humanitarian assistance.

Furthermore, the UNRWA chief stressed the critical need for aid and basic humanitarian supplies, citing the closure of key border crossings with Gaza and the scarcity of fuel essential for aid distribution.

Amidst these challenges, only a limited number of aid trucks have been able to reach southern Gaza since the onset of the conflict, exacerbating the growing humanitarian needs and mass displacement.

Lazzarini concluded by calling for an immediate ceasefire, warning that further escalation in the fighting would only inflict more harm on civilians and hinder efforts towards achieving peace and stability in the region. (ILKHA)