Amid the ongoing war with Hamas, the situation in the southern Gaza border city of Rafah is deteriorating rapidly, causing grave concern among humanitarian workers and doctors. They report that the Israeli military incursion is having a devastating impact on civilians, with the situation becoming increasingly horrific.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) took action in Rafah on Monday by distributing leaflets and sending text messages in Arabic. They issued a call for approximately 100,000 individuals to evacuate the eastern part of the city and move north towards the Al-Mawasi humanitarian corridor. This directive was given in preparation for an imminent large-scale ground invasion into Rafah.
According to the latest information from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Gaza has experienced a halt in the entry of essential supplies such as food, water, fuel, medicine, and other necessities for a period of three days from Monday to Wednesday. Moreover, the office reported that only two hospitals in Rafah and two in nearby Khan Younis are currently operational.
During a media briefing on Wednesday, the nonprofit relief coordination organization Crisis Action highlighted the dire situation in Rafah. Aid workers and medical staff, some of whom are currently in or have recently evacuated from Rafah, emphasized the scarcity of food, water, and healthcare for the over one million people seeking shelter in the area.
Dr. Mohamed Hamooda, a nutritionist and head kitchen chef in Rafah, has been diligently serving hot meals to thousands of displaced people since February as part of his role with the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Rebuilding Alliance. Unfortunately, due to orders from the IDF, he was recently compelled to evacuate and relocate to Khan Younis.
Hamooda expressed his concerns about the relocation to Khan Younis, highlighting the lack of basic amenities such as electricity, clean water, and proper food for his children and team. He also expressed uncertainty about the fate of some displaced people, as their future destinations remain unknown.
Recently, Cindy McCain, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, raised concerns about the dire situation in northern Gaza, describing it as a “full-blown famine.” Furthermore, a report from the U.N.-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative warns that if Israel proceeds with its planned ground invasion in Rafah, it could lead to “catastrophic” levels of food insecurity for approximately 1.1 million people across Gaza.
Israeli forces have seized control of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Tuesday, effectively closing off one of the main entry points for aid into Gaza. This move has resulted in hundreds of trucks being stranded at the border, preventing much-needed assistance from reaching the people in Gaza who are currently facing severe shortages of food and water.
Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced on Thursday that the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south and Erez crossing in the north are currently open. Border guards are diligently inspecting trucks carrying aid for the Gaza strip. This decision serves as an essential step in ensuring the smooth flow of humanitarian assistance to those in need.
“Our staff is here, ready and available to facilitate aid into Gaza,” the post also mentioned. It further stated that all trucks sent to the crossings are promptly inspected and transferred to Gaza.
According to some humanitarian workers, even if it is true, they argue that it is not sufficient.
According to Alexandra Saieh, head of humanitarian advocacy and policy for the nonprofit Save the Children International, the lack of clean water is posing a major challenge for providing formula to infants in need. She described the situation as horrific, explaining that when mothers and babies are discharged from the hospital and return to the shelter, the lack of sufficient nutrients for both the infants and their mothers leads to devastating consequences. Saieh emphasized the catastrophic nature of the situation for these vulnerable infants.
Dr. John Kahler, a pediatrician and co-founder of the NGO MedGlobal, had planned to enter Rafah on Monday for his third medical mission there since January. However, his convoy was forced to turn back to Cairo due to safety concerns over the promised imminent Israeli attacks.
According to Kahler, the closed border has undoubtedly exacerbated the aid crisis in Rafah and Gaza as a whole. He emphasized that a significant portion of the population is experiencing malnourishment and starvation. While aid can provide people with the necessary calories, it does not guarantee their survival.
“I can provide a bag of flour so that people can fulfill their calorie requirements, but it doesn’t ensure that they receive the necessary nutrients,” he explained. “There is a common misconception that calories and nutrition are the same, but nutrition goes beyond just calories. The true ethical dilemma lies in the fact that there is an abundance of food available in close proximity, as evidenced by the aid trucks waiting outside of Rafah.”
During the briefing, Jeremy Konyndyk, the president of the humanitarian organization Refugees International, highlighted that the northern part of Gaza is currently facing famine, whereas the southern part hasn’t reached that level yet. He emphasized that this discrepancy can be attributed to the fact that most aid operations have been centered around Rafah. However, Konyndyk expressed concern over the diminishing fuel supplies for aid workers currently stationed in Rafah.
“The aid operation relies heavily on fuel to function effectively. Without fuel, the entire operation crumbles rapidly,” he emphasized. “This means that water cannot be pumped, hospitals cannot keep their lights on, and vehicles are unable to distribute aid. Therefore, the recent complete closure poses a significant risk of causing the aid operation to collapse in the near future.”
According to Konyndyk, if a significant offensive takes place in Rafah, it could have disastrous consequences for the aid operation not only in that area but also in Gaza as a whole.
According to Konyndyk, if the NGOs are forced to relocate from Rafah, it would pose a significant challenge for humanitarian groups as there are limited viable options available. The relocation would not only affect the people in Rafah but also have a widespread impact throughout Gaza. This is because the offices, residences, warehouses, and logistical hubs that support the aid operation are predominantly located in the south. Therefore, the potential collapse of these facilities due to an offensive would severely impact the already insufficient aid operation in Gaza.
Humanitarian workers have stressed the dire state of the healthcare system in Gaza. Helena Ranchal, a nurse with over two decades of experience and the director of international operations for the humanitarian organization Mรฉdecins du Monde (Doctors of the World), expressed that she has never witnessed such a severe situation in conflict zones as she has encountered in Gaza.
During the briefing, she expressed concern about the dire condition of the patients in the hospital, particularly the children. She highlighted the distressing reality of witnessing war injuries among the young ones. It was not just the exhaustion of the healthcare workers that troubled her, but also the lack of essential resources, medications, and logistical capabilities required for effective patient care and transportation.
According to Ranchal, the staff frequently find themselves treating individuals in unhygienic conditions. Moreover, they often have to prioritize patients based on the severity of their injuries, providing treatment only to those with the highest chances of survival.
Amid negotiations for a potential cease-fire in Gaza, there have been alarming reports of escalating tensions. Recently, Hamas announced its acceptance of an Egyptian-Qatari proposal aimed at achieving a cease-fire agreement. However, senior Israeli officials have noted that this plan differs from the one previously discussed over the weekend. Despite this, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proceeded with plans for an attack on Rafah.
According to Ghada Alhaddad, a media and communications officer at Oxfam, the people in Gaza have been experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions over the past week. She describes it as a “cycle of hope and hopelessness.” Ghada is currently in Rafah, witnessing the daily struggles faced by the Gazans.
During Wednesday’s Crisis Action media briefing, Alhaddad expressed the optimism that spread throughout the streets when news of progress and development in the cease-fire talks reached them. It seemed that peace was finally within reach. However, their hopes were abruptly shattered when they received unexpected evacuation orders for residents in the eastern parts of Rafah. Alhaddad emphasized the devastating impact this had on the previously optimistic atmosphere, stating, “And you know, all hopes of a cease-fire were dashed and destroyed.”
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, since Oct. 7, when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and Israel responded with ongoing military operations in Gaza, the death toll in Gaza stands at 34,735, with 78,108 people injured. On the Israeli side, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that 1,700 people have been killed and 8,700 others injured.
Alhaddad expressed his concern about the potential for increased destruction and loss of lives if an invasion were to occur in this city.