The situation was described as a "traumatized and exhausted population" crammed into an increasingly confined space, raising fears of heightened suffering.

UN Emergency Relief Chief Martin Griffiths, commenting on the unfolding crisis on social media platform X, emphasized the serious obstacles hindering aid delivery amid relentless israeli bombardment and intense ground fighting.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Gaza's health authorities reported distressing conditions among pregnant women seeking shelter, with half of them facing thirst, malnutrition, and a lack of healthcare. Vaccination shortages for newborns and the risk of dehydration, malnutrition, and disease for one in every two displaced children add to the urgency.

The recent wave of displacement resulted from increased hostilities in Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, along with evacuation orders from the Israeli military. Rafah, already one of the most densely populated areas in Gaza, witnesses a surge in overcrowding, exceeding 12,000 people per square kilometer.

Despite a UN Security Council resolution urging increased aid deliveries, access remains insufficient. Griffiths highlighted the challenges faced by humanitarians, including multiple inspections, insufficient entry points, constant bombardment, and damaged roads.

The WFP distributes food parcels in makeshift camps, but the daunting conditions underscore the need for an immediate end to hostilities to address the escalating humanitarian crisis. (ILKHA)