Red Crescent Battling Access to Trapped Families in Tulkarem’s Nur Shams Camp

Tulkarem: The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) announced on Wednesday that it has received dozens of distress calls from families trapped inside Nur Shams Refugee Camp, east of Tulkarem. The organization is encountering significant challenges in reaching these families due to the dangerous situation and the surrounding presence of Israeli forces. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the PRCS stated that many calls for help have come from families in the Jabal al-Nasr area of the camp. Efforts are ongoing to coordinate with partners to secure safe access for evacuation teams to assist these families and provide necessary support. Additionally, the Israeli forces have notified residents of their intention to demolish 11 homes in Nur Shams Camp to construct a road between the Al-Jami' and Al-Manshiya neighborhoods. Homeowners have been given until 11 a.m. tomorrow to evacuate their homes and remove belongings before demolitions commence. This morning, relief teams from the Red Cresc ent, Civil Defense, and others were seen accompanying citizens into the camp, amidst a pervasive sense of shock and sorrow over the widespread destruction. PRCS teams have been active in evacuating families still trapped in their homes, ensuring their safe departure. Disturbing scenes depicted families rushing to leave, salvaging whatever belongings they could from their partly destroyed homes. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have surrounded the area, deploying heavy machinery and driving over rubble and sewage, affecting those present, including journalists. Nur Shams Camp has been under relentless assault since the start of Israeli aggression 18 days ago, in tandem with a continued onslaught on Tulkarem and its camp for the last 31 days. Israeli forces have been conducting repeated raids, evicting residents at gunpoint, and converting homes into military outposts. The camp has suffered extensive destruction of infrastructure and properties, including homes and businesses. This has worsened the dire living cond itions for remaining residents, who face severe shortages of essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and baby formula. Recent days have seen significant displacement from the camp, with over 5,000 residents, including women, children, the elderly, and the sick, forced to flee.