In southern Gaza, hundreds of thousands of refugees are facing a deepening humanitarian crisis, as they flee Israel’s bombing campaign and seek shelter in the south. The influx of refugees has overwhelmed the supposed safe zones in central Gazan city, Deir al-Balah. School buildings hastily repurposed as UN shelters are now crammed with up to 70 people in a single classroom, surrounded by food waste and plagued by unsanitary conditions. These refugees are living in extremely cramped spaces, lack access to basic necessities such as food and clean water, and are at high risk of contracting diseases like chickenpox, scabies, and lice.
The dire circumstances are exacerbated by the fact that the UN’s refugee agency, Unwra, had only planned to house 1,500 displaced people in each school. Currently, the average school-turned-shelter is accommodating 6,000 people, with a total of 670,000 refugees across 94 shelters in the south. This overcrowding has put immense strain on sanitation facilities, with an average of 125 people per toilet and 700 people per shower unit.
To escape the crowded shelters, some refugees venture to the beachfront, where they use polluted seawater for various activities like washing themselves, their clothes, and kitchen utensils. Their only hope for sustenance is to rely on the goodwill of fishermen for a meager meal of one or two fishes for their children.
The situation is especially precarious for pregnant women like Duaa, who is eight months pregnant. With the local hospital already overwhelmed, Duaa fears she might be forced to give birth at the dirty, overcrowded school. The hospitals in the Gaza Strip, including Al-Aqsa hospital, are struggling due to a lack of medical supplies and equipment to treat the increasing influx of injured people. Doctors and nurses are doing their best to provide care, but they are stretched to their limits.
While the refugees continue to stream into Deir al-Balah and other cities in central and southern Gaza, the school shelters are already at full capacity. Desperate for protection, some refugees have resorted to building makeshift shelters against the sides of the buildings, leaving them exposed to the elements as the weather worsens. With the onset of cold weather, residents face the prospect of serious exposure and worsening health conditions.
Food scarcity is another pressing concern. Shops that were providing food under the World Food Programme assistance scheme have run out of basic supplies, and bakeries are unable to make bread due to a lack of gas. This shortage of essential provisions means that people are not eating enough to maintain their health, leading to weakened immune systems and a potential wave of malnutrition.
The plight of the refugees in Gaza demands urgent attention and meaningful support from the international community. Aid organizations must provide immediate assistance to address the overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and lack of basic necessities. The UN and other relief agencies should mobilize resources to ensure that refugees have access to food, clean water, and healthcare services. It is crucial to act swiftly to prevent further suffering and loss of life in this dire humanitarian crisis.
