UN slams latest Israeli evacuation orders, says safe zones can’t house that many Gazans

The United Nations condemns the latest Israeli evacuation orders covering northern and central Gaza, warning that Palestinians are being squeezed into ever-shrinking areas that are not equipped for such a large population that has already been displaced countless times amid the war.

Roughly 150,000 people are impacted by yesterday’s IDF evacuation order alone, including families staying at dozens of shelters for already displaced civilians, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric says during a briefing.

“People are being pushed into overcrowded areas where thousands of others are already staying. These spaces lack shelter, they lack water and they lack sewage systems, not to mention medical facilities,” he says.

The UN spokesperson highlights a recent assessment from the World Food Program, which found that one in five Gazans faces catastrophic levels of hunger and that over 90,000 women and children urgently require treatment for malnutrition.

Dujarric says roughly 143,300 tons of food are waiting at the Gaza border for Israeli approval to be transferred into the enclave. Israel has claimed that some of the aid is not delivered, due to the UN’s lack of capacity.

He highlights the dire need for fuel and shelters, which Israel has not allowed into the Gaza Strip in 17 weeks.