- The war between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing for the past seven months
- Hundreds of thousands were left homeless in the Gaza Strip, creating starvation-like conditions
- Israel determined to end Hamas
There are many who are staying in UN-run shelters or illegal tent camps. Located on the border with Egypt, the city is also an important hub for bringing in food, medicine, fuel and other goods. The UN Office (OCHA) says around 110,000 people have fled Rafah and the city is severely short on food and fuel supplies.
The main crossing is closed
An OCHA official based in Rafah, Georgios Petropoulos, said two major crossings near the city had been closed, supplies had been cut and the movement of medical evacuations and humanitarian workers had been halted. “Although we have been assured of passage through the corridor, it is not acceptable for any humanitarian area to be so close to the troops involved in the fighting,”
People are leaving Rafah
Petropoulos said that if more aid is not received, the food provided under the United Nations World Food Program will run out. He said about 30,000 people were leaving Rafah every day in search of safety, but humanitarian workers delivering aid had no supplies to help set up camps in new locations.
Hamas attacked
The war began last year with a surprise attack by Hamas in southern Israel. It (Hamas) killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. 250 people were taken hostage. Even after freeing most of them during a ceasefire last year, the Hamalus militants are still holding around 100 people hostage. More than 34,800 Palestinians have been killed in the war, most of them women and children.
