The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that thousands of Palestinians in Gaza City fled in multiple directions without a clear safe path amidst an extensive Israeli military assault.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated on Tuesday, citing OCHA reports, "Many fled under fire and shelling, with only a few able to take their belongings."
OCHA described the latest displacement following Israeli evacuation orders as "dangerously chaotic," with displaced individuals fleeing into or through active combat zones or areas subsequently ordered to evacuate.
Dujarric emphasized the need to protect civilians and meet their basic needs, whether they stay or leave, and to provide safe routes and destinations for those evacuating. He highlighted that ongoing hostilities hinder relief organizations from accessing warehouses, preventing them from restocking supplies or assessing needs.
Furthermore, Dujarric reported that the largest UN-supported bakery in Gaza had to shut down after Israeli evacuation orders, risking significant losses of flour, sugar, and yeast inside.
Despite these challenges, relief workers delivered enough fuel on Monday to run generators, increasing the number of operational bakeries in Gaza to 10 out of 18. However, the seven bakeries in Deir al-Balah and the three in northern Gaza had only enough fuel for one or two more days of operation.
During the first week of July, humanitarian workers brought slightly over 500,000 liters of fuel into Gaza, with more than 2 million liters delivered in June. Dujarric noted that this was less than one-fifth of the estimated 400,000 liters needed daily to sustain humanitarian, medical, and related operations.
Dujarric reiterated the urgent need for protection and assistance for Gaza's civilian population amidst the ongoing conflict.
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