Military forces of Israel declare Gaza as a "humanitarian area"

The Israeli army has designated a coastal area in southern Gaza, known as Al-Mawasi near Khan Yunis, as a humanitarian zone in response to the anticipated large-scale offensive in the city of Gaza. This move is intended to provide safety and essential resources for civilians, who are at risk of crossfire due to the potential conflict.

The Al-Mawasi area, previously declared a "humanitarian zone" by the Israeli army in December 2023, is currently housing around 425,000 people, making it critically overcrowded. The civilian population in northern and central Gaza was previously urged to move to this area.

However, the capacities of the field clinics in the Al-Mawasi area are insufficient given the large number of people. The population resides in huge tent camps, and there have been reports of insufficient supply of latrines, communal toilets, and waste disposal facilities.

Despite these challenges, the Al-Mawasi area boasts essential humanitarian infrastructure such as field hospitals, water pipelines, and desalination plants. The main organizations currently able to provide help and support in this area are Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), Caritas, and the Red Cross. However, their ability to supply aid is severely limited by Israeli restrictions, ongoing attacks, and lack of fuel for hospitals.

UN agencies such as UNICEF, OCHA, UNRWA, WFP, and WHO are calling urgently for international intervention to ensure aid reaches the population in the Al-Mawasi area. The anticipated large-scale offensive in the city of Gaza could potentially put almost a million civilians at risk.

It is important to note that the Israeli army has intensified air strikes in recent days, and the Israeli government is planning a military takeover of the city of Gaza, with the Israeli armed forces preparing for an offensive. The Israeli army had previously targeted the northern and central Gaza areas against the Islamic Hamas.

In light of these developments, it is crucial that humanitarian aid continues to be delivered to the Al-Mawasi area to ensure the safety and well-being of the civilians residing there. The international community must take action to support these efforts and help alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza.