Philip Lazarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), affirmed Saturday that 800,000 people have been “forced to flee” from Rafah in the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip since the start of Israeli military operations in the city this month.
Lazarini stated on the X platform, “Approximately half of Rafah’s population, or 800,000 individuals, are on the move after being compelled to flee since Israeli forces launched military operations in the area on May 6th.”
The United Nations had warned of a “major” catastrophe if Israel directly attacked the city, which is home to around 1.4 million people, the majority of whom are displaced.
Israel instructed residents of several areas in Rafah to evacuate and head to the “humanitarian zone” it established in the outskirts northwest of Rafah.
However, humanitarian organizations cautioned that they were unable to accommodate additional numbers of displaced persons.
Rafah is a city located in the southern Gaza Strip, near the border with Egypt. It has frequently been a site of conflict and military operations between Israeli forces and Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas.
The area has also been the scene of Israeli airstrikes, ground incursions, and border closures, which have severely affected the civilian population.
The Gaza Strip, including Rafah, has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007, following Hamas’ takeover of the territory.
The blockade has severely restricted the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza, leading to economic hardship and humanitarian crises.
The UNRWA provides assistance to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, including food aid, healthcare, education, and social services.
The recent escalation of violence in Rafah and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people highlight the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
