According to Juliette Touma, the Director of Communications for UNRWA, the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees, she recently spoke in detail to UN News’s Conor Lennon on Monday regarding her recent trip to the area.

The interview has been revised for better understanding and shorter length.

“This was my second visit since the war started. I make an effort to go whenever feasible to show support for the individuals who are greatly affected by this ruthless war, and also to reunite with our colleagues who are still carrying out their humanitarian work in the affected communities.”

On this occasion, I explored the central regions, such as Deir al-Balah, and then traveled to the southern areas of Rafah and Khan Younis.

The situation was incredibly dire. Everywhere you turned, there were displaced individuals, people seeking aid, and those who were extremely weary and fatigued after enduring three and a half months of a brutal conflict.

I believe the main difference from my initial visit was the increased congestion in a city like Rafah.

Makeshift shelters

The number of inhabitants in the southern city of Rafah has multiplied by four since the conflict started. Many individuals continue to leave their homes in search of refuge in this area of Gaza, hoping to find security and sanctuary.

No matter where you traveled, wherever you strolled, wherever your gaze fell, the entire city was filled with these small shelters that were built by those who sought refuge in the area. They are simple structures, consisting of only a few wooden poles and plastic sheeting. Despite their simplicity, they have become the only form of housing for a large number of people.

In January 2024, the Deir Al-Balah refugee camp in Gaza was crowded.

These are not circumstances intended for human beings.

I had a conversation with a mother who resided in one of the makeshift dwellings. In this cramped area, there were 26 individuals stacked on top of each other, occupying less than three square meters.

She was holding two of her children and expressed that they had no means of keeping warm at night. They were feeling frustrated and tired of their current living situation.

She informed me that there was only one serving of vegetables available for the 26 individuals in terms of aid. She also mentioned that she is unable to bathe due to either lengthy lines or malfunctioning showers.

These conditions are not suitable for humans.

© UNOCHA/Ziad Taleb

Hala attempts to communicate with her sister, but the messages are not delivered.

Total communication blackouts

From the start of the conflict, there have been multiple instances where phone and internet services were disconnected, resulting in complete communication shutdowns. However, this is currently the longest ongoing telecommunication blackout in Gaza since the war began, which is attributed to extensive damage to the telecoms infrastructure in the southern region of the Gaza Strip.

During my time there, sending a basic WhatsApp message was not possible and placing a call between two mobile devices was out of the question.

Most individuals experience a strong sense of disconnection from both others and the larger global community, leading to a feeling of insecurity.

Picture yourself in the midst of a battlefield, and you require an ambulance. Alternatively, you may need to reach out for assistance or inquire about the well-being of your family members. Unfortunately, you are unable to do so.

This also affects our aid efforts, including UNRWA, the UN, and humanitarian groups in general. It is extremely difficult to coordinate, as one can imagine. We must be able to contact truck drivers and coordinate with those responsible for loading, unloading, storing, and distributing. A phone is absolutely necessary.

Humanitarian ceasefire, now

Currently, we are still urging for a humanitarian ceasefire in order to provide relief and tranquility not just for those in Gaza, but for all individuals in the surrounding area.

At this time, there is a requirement for additional humanitarian resources, specifically medication for long-term illnesses, which are currently lacking in adequate amounts.

After returning from our visit to Gaza, we came to the realization that the blockade is the underlying cause of death for the people living there. Due to hunger, illness, and inadequate access to healthcare, it is likely that many are losing their lives.

Additionally, it is imperative that there is an increase in commercial resources delivered to the private sector in the Gaza Strip. Currently, the vast majority of the population is dependent on humanitarian aid, which is not a sustainable solution in the short or long run.

Source: news.un.org