Lebanese Al-Mayadeen TV network reported citing UNRWA Director of Communications Juliette Touma on Sunday in a post X social media platform that "1.4 million people in Gaza sheltering in UNRWA facilities and many more in the vicinity, sleeping outside."
In the same context, Touma said on December 30, as quoted by BBC, that over 1.4 million people forcibly displaced by the Israeli aggression are currently residing in UNRWA facilities, primarily repurposed schools.
As the Israeli aggression persists, many have sought shelter anywhere available, including streets and overcrowded apartments housing up to 70 people, and those with financial means are renting rooms, she added.
Tragically, a significant number are forced to live in open spaces, parks, and even in their cars, as the quest for safety remains elusive due to the absence of secure zones in Gaza, as per Touma.
"Nowhere is safe in Gaza, not the north, not the middle, and not the south," Touma said.
The UN agency said in another post on Sunday that "while the world is crowded with New Year's celebrations, the streets of southern Gaza Strip are crowded with displacement."
Revealing a concerning trend, UNRWA's spokesperson disclosed that a significant portion of the Gaza population is being pushed towards the border city of Rafah, home to approximately 250,000 people. This demographic shift raises serious issues at multiple levels.
Children in Gaza are facing life-threatening risks from hunger and thirst, particularly in Gaza City and the Strip's northern regions. Access to even one daily meal is becoming increasingly scarce, compelling families to resort to unsafe and unhealthy cooking methods.
AMK/PR