In the wake of nearly a week of relentless Israeli bombardment, at least 1,900 Gazans have lost their lives due to missile strikes in the densely populated enclave, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the bombardment marks “just the beginning” of Israel’s response to Hamas forces, who reportedly killed over 1,300 civilians a week ago.
The Gaza Ministry of Public Works has reported that 1,324 residential and non-residential buildings, including 5,540 housing units, have been utterly destroyed.
Additionally, 3,743 housing units have been so severely damaged that they are now deemed uninhabitable.
Furthermore, an estimated 55,000 housing units have suffered partial damage.
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According to the United Nations, approximately 1,300 buildings have been razed in Gaza so far.
Within those structures, OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) disclosed that a staggering 5,540 housing units have been demolished, and around 3,750 more homes have been rendered unusable due to severe damage.
Israel has since issued a warning, urging 1.1 million residents in the northern part of the enclave to relocate to the south immediately to evade a potential ground invasion.
OCHA reported that as of 1800 GMT on Friday, it was estimated that tens of thousands had heeded the call and fled.
However, the precise number of internally displaced persons in Gaza remains uncertain.
OCHA highlighted that vehicles carrying those evacuating the north were targeted, leading to more than 40 casualties and 150 injuries.
These incidents, in turn, discouraged many from continuing their evacuation efforts, causing them to return to their homes.
Initially, no safe corridors were provided for people to comply with the orders to move southward, forcing hundreds, including families, to make the journey on foot.
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OCHA also pointed out that the majority of people in the Gaza Strip are now without access to clean drinking water.
Resorting to brackish water from agricultural wells as a last resort, this situation has raised significant concerns about the potential spread of waterborne diseases.
Since the commencement of hostilities, air strikes have damaged six water wells, three water pumping stations, one water reservoir, and a desalination plant that serves over 1,100,000 people.
The complete blackout of electricity has pushed essential health, water, and sanitation services “to the brink of collapse” and intensified food insecurity, OCHA added.