UN warns of deteriorating catastrophic situation in Gaza

Geneva, The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is deteriorating due to the ongoing Israeli aggression, repeated waves of displacement, collapsing infrastructure, and limited services. 'According to humanitarian workers in Gaza, the latest Israeli evacuation order issued last Saturday affected about 13,500 displaced persons in 18 locations in the Maghazi camp area and several neighborhoods in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.' The Palestinian WAFA news agency quoted the office as saying in a statement. OCHA warned that the ongoing hostilities, constant evacuation orders, and severe shortage of essential supplies are making it increasingly difficult for displaced families to access basic services at their place of arrival. Since October last year, 86 per cent of the Gaza Strip - about 314 square kilometres - has been placed under evacuation orders. Most of the residents are increasingly co ncentrated in a zone designated by the occupation in Al-Mawasi, where the population density in this area has increased to between 33,000 and 34,000 people per square kilometer, compared to about two hundred people before last October. Source: Syrian Arab News Agency