The UN warns of massive new displacement and worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza as Israel’s escalating hostilities intensify the crisis.
"Many households are unable to move due to high costs and a lack of safe space to move to,"
Stephane Dujarric emphasized, "with older people and those with disabilities being particularly affected."
“Our colleagues supporting displacement sites warned that the escalating hostilities in Gaza City are having horrific humanitarian consequences for people living at these sites, many of whom were previously displaced from North Gaza,”
spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news
conference.
According to Dujarric, who cited UN humanitarian partners, "more than 82,000 new displacements have been recorded, including nearly 30,000 movements from north to south" between August 14 and August 31.
“Our partners describe conditions at displacement sites as deplorable and overcrowded, with debris and waste accumulating near or within living areas,”
he said, adding that rising temperatures increased “unsanitary conditions, leading to widespread rodent and insect infestations.”
“As a result, there are mounting health risks, with children developing skin rashes,”
"Out of 16 missions coordinated with Israeli authorities yesterday, five faced extremely long delays before receiving the green light to move, including efforts to collect supplies from the crossings,"
Dujarric said, citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
UN workers "were able to pick up aid, including medical supplies, as well as fuel from the Kerem Shalom crossing,"
he said, despite Israeli restrictions.
Nevertheless, only a portion of two of the hindered missions which were to retrieve food assistance from the crossings were completed. Three humanitarian movements had to be canceled by the organizers yesterday, while eight others were enabled.
Since late 2023, Israel's ruthless military campaign in the Gaza Strip has killed almost 63,700 Palestinians. The famine-stricken enclave has been decimated by the military campaign.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were both wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza last November.
Because of its war on the enclave, Israel is also facing a
genocide prosecution at the International Court of Justice.
How are children and disabled people specifically affected
according to the UN?
At least 21,000 children in Gaza have been disabled as a result of war wounds since the war started almost two years ago.
About 40,500 children have incurred new war wounds, more than half of whom are likely to have long-term disabilities. Malnutrition among children is dire, with an estimated 132,000 children under five at risk of dying from acute malnutrition by June 2026.
School attacks and insecure education settings have undermined access to education, putting more children at risk of exclusion, particularly children with disabilities.
Disability puts children at higher risk during attacks, making it harder for them to escape, and at greater risk of being denied education and humanitarian assistance.
Psychological trauma, denial of rehabilitation, and social
stigma are major issues for disabled children in war zones.