The evacuation orders affected parts of the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone around Deir al-Balah, where the UN's main operations center is located, forcing staff to relocate quickly and leave behind equipment. Despite these challenges, the official emphasized that UN agencies are not leaving Gaza and are seeking a safe location to resume their work.
The Israeli military issued these evacuation orders as part of its ongoing operations against Hamas and other armed groups, aiming to protect civilians. Since the conflict began, about 88.5 percent of Gaza has been under evacuation orders, forcing approximately 1.8 million people into a small humanitarian zone lacking essential infrastructure.
The conflict erupted after an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, which killed around 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken. Since then, more than 40,430 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
In Deir al-Balah, local officials reported that about 250,000 people have been displaced since mid-August due to Israeli evacuation orders. Humanitarian workers from various UN agencies, NGOs, and other service providers, along with their families, have also been displaced. A new evacuation order issued on Sunday affected 15 UN and NGO facilities and four UN warehouses in the area. UN staff have been directed to find ways to resume their operations.
Sam Rose, a senior official with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa), warned that both UN staff and Palestinian civilians are being confined to increasingly smaller areas of Gaza. He noted that the humanitarian zone has shrunk to about 11 percent of the Gaza Strip, consisting mostly of unsuitable land, such as sand dunes and overcrowded areas.
Rose also raised concerns about a recent polio outbreak in Gaza, with a few cases already reported. Given the poor living conditions, there is a high risk of the disease spreading. UN agencies are focusing on a polio vaccination campaign set to begin soon, aiming to vaccinate over 640,000 children. They have called for pauses in the conflict to ensure the vaccination efforts can proceed successfully.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also expressed concern over the latest evacuation order, which impacted areas near al-Aqsa hospital, Deir al-Balah's main medical facility. An explosion near the hospital on Sunday caused panic, prompting many people to leave.
MSF is considering suspending wound care temporarily while trying to maintain life-saving treatments. The hospital, which has been operating beyond capacity, now has only 100 patients left, with seven in intensive care. MSF stressed the importance of respecting the hospital and ensuring patients have access to medical care.
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