Israeli invasion of Rafah “could be a massacre of civilians”, warns UN

United Nations:

An Israeli incursion into the city of Rafah, in southern Gaza, could lead to a “massacre” and worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in the region, the humanitarian office and the United Nations health agency have warned.

The city currently serves as a base for humanitarian operations inside Gaza, following months of violent Israeli shelling and civilian casualties, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a ground offensive on Rafah would proceed regardless of any potential truce agreement with Hamas.

With more than 1.2 million people crammed into Rafah, the city’s deficient healthcare system would not be able to withstand the potential devastation if Israel launched an incursion into the region.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza would be at imminent risk of death in the event of an attack, warned Jens Laerke, spokesman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at a press conference in Geneva.

“It could be a massacre of civilians and an incredible blow to the humanitarian operation across the strip,” he said.

The border city is a critical entry point for humanitarian aid. Dozens of humanitarian organizations store supplies for civilians across the Gaza Strip, such as food, water, health, sanitation and hygiene items in southern Gaza City.

The WHO is making contingency plans to ensure the health system is prepared and can continue to provide care, but these plans would only be a “Band-Aid”, said Richard Peeperkorn, representative at the WHO’s West Bank and Gaza office. , in the briefing via video link.

An influx of new displacements would worsen overcrowding, increasing pressure on resources such as food, water and healthcare, the WHO said in a statement.

This would trigger more disease outbreaks, worsen famine and result in more loss of life.

Only 33 percent of Gaza’s 36 hospitals and 30 percent of primary health centers are partially functional due to repeated attacks and shortages of vital medical supplies, fuel and personnel, the Geneva-based health body said.

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