Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding in Gaza: Thousands Forced to Flee Amid IDF Offensive

As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue their assault on Gaza City and northern Gaza, a dire humanitarian situation is emerging. The UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) reports that since the establishment of periodic evacuation “corridors,” over 72,000 people have fled from northern Gaza to the besieged enclave’s southern regions, with around 50,000 evacuating in the latest day alone.

The IDF, urging civilians to move south, has opened a corridor along Salah Ad Deen Road for five consecutive days. UN monitors and NGOs are providing essential aid, such as water and biscuits, to evacuees just south of Wadi Gaza. The majority of evacuees make the journey on foot, covering distances up to 20 km.

Since the outbreak of war on October 7, an alarming 1.5 million people in Gaza have been internally displaced, with approximately 725,000 seeking refuge in UNRWA facilities and others dispersed in hospitals, churches, public buildings, non-UNRWA schools, and with host families. The unfolding crisis demands urgent international attention and humanitarian support.