Israel-Gaza war: Displaced Gazans 'living in the open', UN says
Displaced Gazans, affected by Israeli strikes, are reportedly living outdoors, particularly in parks, as over 100,000 people seek refuge in Rafah near Gaza's border with Egypt, according to the UN's humanitarian office (OCHA). Juliette Touma of UNRWA stated that while the UN is allowed to offer limited assistance, the humanitarian needs in Gaza have significantly increased. Israel denies restricting aid, attributing issues to distribution challenges. The conflict, initiated by Israel after a deadly October 7 attack by Hamas, has led to tightly controlled access to humanitarian aid in the enclave. Ongoing fighting has caused overcrowded shelters, with UNRWA reporting up to 1.9 million people displaced across Gaza since the conflict's onset. The WHO warns of a rise in infectious diseases among Gaza's displaced population.