Dubai: The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) revealed on Monday that forced displacement has driven more than one million people away from the Gazan city of Rafah.
Rafah, situated on the southern border of the Gaza Strip, previously provided refuge for approximately one million Palestinians escaping Israeli assaults in other parts of the enclave, as noted by aid groups.
Since early May, Israel’s military has initiated what it describes as a limited operation in Rafah to eliminate Hamas fighters and dismantle infrastructure utilized by the Palestinian Islamist militant group governing Gaza.
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Israeli military directives have urged civilians to relocate to an “expanded humanitarian zone” roughly 20 km (12 miles) away. However, many Palestinians express concerns about vulnerability to Israeli attacks regardless of their location, prompting movements across the Gaza Strip in recent months.
UNRWA disclosed that thousands of families now seek shelter in damaged or destroyed facilities in the city of Khan Younis. Despite escalating challenges, the agency continues to provide essential services to those displaced.
