War displaced Palestinians decry dire living conditions at IDP camps
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip - Intensified rain-down of Israeli bombings have displaced a myriad of Palestinians from their homes, decrying dire living conditions and a lack of basic needs at makeshift camps set up for them by the UN relief agency south of Gaza Strip.
Rudaw's crew visited a family that was displaced from northern Gaza to tents set up by the UN’s Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.
"We stay inside the tents even though it is very hot during the day. And during the nighttime, we feel cold. We only have one mattress and we are forced to sleep on blankets on the floor," Ghazal Obaid, a displaced child, spoke about their plight.
Obaid went on to add: "We feel tired and wake up very exhausted. We struggle when we need to go to the toilet. We must stand in long queues that sometimes take half an hour or an hour."
Muhammad Obaid, Ghazal's father labelled basic services provided at their camps as "zero".
"Of course, the services here in the UNRWA camp are zero, as there are no services. This camp is not well-prepared to receive people."
"It does not have services such as a proper toilet or water. We are forced to buy bottles of water, having to wait in queues, not to mention that there is no [heating oil] at all."
According to data published by local authorities of Gaza, the Israeli bombing campaign has caused the destruction of more than 50 percent of the housing units.
The Palestinian government says that more than half of the population of the Gaza Strip have been displaced.
"Our situation is very grave. There is no water or electricity," Fatima Radwan, a displaced woman decried. "We cannot do laundry... There are no places to take care of the ill people, children and the elderly."
"Even going to the bathroom requires walking long distances and then waiting in long queues."
Israel declared war on Gaza after Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel earlier this month, killing 1,400 people.
The UNRWA has warned of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe as people who have taken refuge in schools continue to be unable to access food, water, and medicine.
Rudaw's crew visited a family that was displaced from northern Gaza to tents set up by the UN’s Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.
"We stay inside the tents even though it is very hot during the day. And during the nighttime, we feel cold. We only have one mattress and we are forced to sleep on blankets on the floor," Ghazal Obaid, a displaced child, spoke about their plight.
Obaid went on to add: "We feel tired and wake up very exhausted. We struggle when we need to go to the toilet. We must stand in long queues that sometimes take half an hour or an hour."
Muhammad Obaid, Ghazal's father labelled basic services provided at their camps as "zero".
"Of course, the services here in the UNRWA camp are zero, as there are no services. This camp is not well-prepared to receive people."
"It does not have services such as a proper toilet or water. We are forced to buy bottles of water, having to wait in queues, not to mention that there is no [heating oil] at all."
According to data published by local authorities of Gaza, the Israeli bombing campaign has caused the destruction of more than 50 percent of the housing units.
The Palestinian government says that more than half of the population of the Gaza Strip have been displaced.
"Our situation is very grave. There is no water or electricity," Fatima Radwan, a displaced woman decried. "We cannot do laundry... There are no places to take care of the ill people, children and the elderly."
"Even going to the bathroom requires walking long distances and then waiting in long queues."
Israel declared war on Gaza after Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel earlier this month, killing 1,400 people.
The UNRWA has warned of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe as people who have taken refuge in schools continue to be unable to access food, water, and medicine.