People, including MSF staff, are fleeing to different areas of Al Mawasi, Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people are already cramped in dire conditions, after Israeli forces gave evacuation orders in Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis today, 21 August.
“The continuous forced displacement of people is inhumane,” says MSF project coordinator Jacob Granger. “People have no belongings left, nowhere left to go. There is no room to put tents up. The overcrowding, the severe lack of water and minimal sanitation services is fueling the spread of diseases. We are unable to keep up with the overwhelming needs.”
“We are seeing an increase in skin conditions, such as scabies – most linked to the lack of water and hygiene products, such as soap,” says Julie Faucon, MSF medical coordinator. “With the constant bombardments forcing people to seek shelter in a shrinking space, conditions are worsening, and diseases will continue to spread, impacting the mostly vulnerable such as children.”
Between 1 July and 21 August, at least 16 evacuation orders have been issued by Israeli forces in Gaza. An estimated 213,000 Palestinians have been affected from the beginning of August to 16 August and 86% of Gaza has come under evacuation orders since the war began, according to OCHA.
“My family and I are dismantling the tent and packing our things [to move],” says Khamis Amir, MSF radio operator, who was displaced by the evacuation order on 21 August.
“My children are gathering their toys and belongings. We don’t know where to go. When will this war end?”
An estimated 1.9 million people, 90 per cent of the population in Gaza, have been displaced – often multiple times, according to the UN. People in Gaza need an immediate and sustained ceasefire. All parties must ensure unhindered humanitarian aid to meet the immediate and urgent medical needs of people.
