Gaza city: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported on Monday that approximately half a million Palestinians are currently trapped in Gaza City, confined to an area of no more than eight square kilometers.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the situation in the southern Gaza Strip is equally dire, with 70,000 Palestinians densely packed into each square kilometer in areas where Israel is urging civilians to relocate. UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna highlighted in statements on the UN agency's X account that the congestion in Gaza City is creating a humanitarian crisis.
Abu Hasna elaborated on the conditions in the southern Gaza Strip, stating, "Approximately 70,000 people will be crowded into each square kilometer, with no space to erect a single tent, leaving tens of thousands of families homeless in the streets." This overcrowding has exacerbated the suffering, leading to acute shortages of basic necessities.
The UNRWA spokesperson further noted that "famine has spread with the displaced from Gaza City to the central and southern Gaza Strip," underscoring the critical need for an immediate ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian aid. The pressing situation demands urgent international attention to prevent further deterioration.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Global Initiative reported on August 22 that "famine has occurred in Gaza City," with projections indicating its spread to the cities of Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis by the end of September. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate, calling for swift and decisive action.
