Over a week after Israel imposed a complete blockade and halted the entry of supplies into Gaza, the situation in the region has become critical. Large numbers of people in the northern part of Gaza have been forced to leave their homes due to an evacuation order issued by Israel, anticipating a ground invasion. However, there are limited safe destinations for them to go.
Israel has been conducting airstrikes in response to an attack by Hamas militants, resulting in significant casualties. According to the UN, approximately 1 million Palestinians have been displaced, and the Palestinian health ministry reports over 2,300 Palestinians killed since the hostilities began.
Gaza is now facing a dire humanitarian crisis with power outages, a scarcity of clean water, and the risk of running out of fuel for hospital emergency generators.
Efforts have been made to provide aid through the Rafah crossing, but this has been hindered due to the ongoing conflict. International diplomats have been working on establishing a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and enable foreigners trapped in the region to leave.
Gaza has been under a strict land and sea blockade by Israel since 2007, which has severely limited the movement of civilians and essential goods, including food and medicine. The blockade is aimed at restricting Hamas’s access to weapons. Egypt’s control of the Rafah crossing has also been criticized for contributing to the blockade.
UNRWA reports that 63% of Gaza’s population relies on international aid, and the blockade has had a devastating impact on the region’s economy, pushing over 80% of the population into poverty. The recent conflict has further exacerbated food insecurity, with long lines at bakeries and limited food supplies.
Even before the current conflict, Israel had cut off fresh water supplies to Gaza, rendering 90% of the water undrinkable, according to the Palestinian water authority. Since the blockade, the primary source of water has been an aquifer contaminated by sewage, chemicals, and seawater. Desalination facilities in neighborhoods provide a source of fresh water, while some residents drill private wells or purchase filtered treated water from water trucks.
The electricity crisis adds to the woes in Gaza, as both the power lines from Israel and the Gaza power plant have ceased operation. The power from Israel was cut off at the beginning of the siege, and the power plant ran out of fuel nearly a week ago. While smaller generators can still provide electricity, they rely on fuel that has been unable to enter Gaza for over a week.
Hospitals are on the brink of running out of power, posing a serious threat to the lives of thousands of patients. The UN has warned that hospitals could deplete their generator fuel in as little as 24 hours.
The electricity shortage also hinders search and rescue efforts, making it challenging to locate people trapped under the rubble of their destroyed homes. Gaza is in the midst of a severe crisis, with essential resources dwindling, and a collective effort is needed to address the humanitarian emergency.
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