The United Nations has confirmed that its humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip are ongoing, despite reports of a standstill due to Israeli military evacuation orders. A spokesperson stated that the challenging conditions are severely hindering efforts, yet the UN is striving to provide aid with available resources.
On Sunday, UN personnel were forced to evacuate quickly after the Israeli military issued orders affecting a significant portion of the designated humanitarian zone around Deir al-Balah, where the UN’s main operations center is located. The Israeli military articulated that its actions aimed to protect civilians while counteracting Hamas activities in the area.
The military also highlighted ongoing collaborations with the UN and international organizations to identify alternative locations for continued humanitarian efforts. Since the conflict’s escalation, an estimated 88.5% of Gaza has been under evacuation orders, impacting nearly 1.8 million people forced to seek shelter within a humanitarian zone measuring approximately 41 square kilometers, which is critically lacking essential infrastructure and services.
The Israeli military’s campaign in Gaza, launched following an unprecedented attack on October 7 that resulted in around 1,200 fatalities in southern Israel, has led to a reported death toll of more than 40,500 individuals in Gaza, according to local health authorities.
On Tuesday, a UN official reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to providing life-saving aid in Gaza, acknowledging the dwindling safe spaces for staff amidst the escalating conflict. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly gave UN personnel a few hours to vacate multiple premises, including UN warehouses and essential facilities.
The recent evacuation prompted concerns from UN officials, particularly regarding the impending launch of a significant polio vaccination campaign aimed at immunizing 640,000 children, following the first reported case of polio in 25 years in Gaza.
Appeals for humanitarian pauses have been made to facilitate the safe execution of vaccination efforts. The IDF maintains that evacuation orders are necessary for executing essential operations against Hamas and insists on continued cooperation with international entities to safeguard vital humanitarian infrastructure.
Tragically, the ongoing conflict has resulted in civilian casualties, with reports confirming at least eight fatalities from an airstrike near a school in Deir al-Balah and additional casualties in Khan Younis amid military incursions. In a related development, the IDF announced the recovery of an Israeli soldier abducted on October 7, marking a significant moment amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
