A newly expanded area in Al-Mawasi, where Israel's military has directed thousands of people from east Rafah to evacuate to, has been deemed unsuitable for habitation by the Director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza. Describing the coastal, western side of Gaza as a sandy area with a lot of beach, he expressed concerns about the living conditions in the area. Despite recent expansion efforts, he highlighted that the region, particularly in Khan Younis, is still recovering from previous operations.
Israeli military spokesperson Colonel Nadav Shoshani stated that the 'humanitarian' area in Al-Mawasi now includes essential facilities such as field hospitals, tents, increased food and water supplies, medicines, and other necessities. Additionally, a local water line was repaired during the expansion process.
The evacuation order issued by Israel could impact approximately 100,000 individuals out of the over one million currently residing in Rafah. The Director of UNRWA affairs emphasized that more than half of the affected population are children, and some have already been displaced multiple times.
Despite the evacuation directive, UNRWA, the primary relief agency in Gaza, has confirmed that it will not be evacuating from Rafah. The situation in Al-Mawasi underscores the challenges faced by displaced individuals in finding suitable living conditions and meeting their basic needs on a daily basis.
