Around 280,000 people in Gaza have been newly displaced over the past two weeks due to escalating violence by Israel, with many forced into overcrowded shelters plagued by fleas and mites, the UN has reported.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that fresh evacuation orders from Israeli authorities have led to further displacement, pushing residents to seek safety in shelters that are already beyond capacity.
“More people are cramming into the few remaining shelters, which are severely overcrowded,” OCHA noted, adding that reports of flea and mite infestations have led to skin rashes and other health concerns.
Efforts to address the worsening sanitary conditions are hampered by the ongoing blockade, which has left Gaza without sufficient supplies needed to maintain basic hygiene.
Despite the severe constraints, UN agencies and their humanitarian partners continue to assist the population wherever access is possible. The blockade, now in its fourth week, has prevented vital humanitarian aid and essential goods from reaching Gaza, rapidly depleting food supplies.
OCHA said that food security partners have managed to distribute over 900,000 hot meals daily but warned that aid is dwindling fast.
The agency has called for the immediate reopening of border crossings to allow the entry of humanitarian supplies and relief cargo.
Earlier, the Israeli military ordered civilians in several northern Gaza areas to evacuate immediately, citing intercepted rocket fire from Palestinian groups. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged people to head west toward shelters in Gaza City, accusing militant factions of launching attacks from within civilian areas.
