WHO warns Israeli military invasion into Rafah would be an unfathomable catastrophe

GENEVA: World Health Organization (WHO) Representative for the occupied Palestinian territory, Richard Peeperkorn, warned that a military ground invasion into Rafah, in Gaza, would be an 'unfathomable catastrophe, further expanding the humanitarian disaster beyond all imagination.a 'All eyes are on Rafah,' declared Peeperkorn in fear of possible Israeli ground invasion. To be noted, over 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are crowded into makeshift shelters in the city of Rafah. On 13 February, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths warned that a military operation in Rafah 'could lead to a slaughter in Gaza' and 'leave an already fragile humanitarian operation at death's door,' noting that the 'Government of Israel cannot continue to ignore these calls' by the international community. UNRWA also reported that 152 UNRWA installations have sustained damage across Gaza since 7 October, including premises providing shelter to Internally Displaced Pe rsons (IDPs). According to United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT)'s data published on 1 February, 30 percent of structures in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or sustained severe to moderate damage, with the governorates of Gaza and Khan Yunis experiencing the highest rise in damage in January 2024 compared to November 2023. Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA