UNITED NATIONS: Over the weekend, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, surveyed one of its now-abandoned schools in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, revealing the aftermath of intense Israeli bombardment and mass evacuations.
Louise Wateridge, UNRWA Communications Officer, described the scene as thousands of people had left the school at a moment’s notice, fearing further attacks. She noted the complete evacuation of the school, with abandoned children’s shoes scattered everywhere and debris strewn across the premises.
Ms. Wateridge’s social media post on X highlighted the devastation, showcasing rubble and smashed concrete blocks resulting from direct hits on the school. Nearby buildings, including a block with its top floor upended, bore witness to the scale of destruction wrought by the conflict.
At a training center in Khan Younis, which sheltered at least 40,000 people during direct fire and subsequent siege, Ms. Wateridge witnessed entire rooms burnt out and belongings scattered. Heartbreakingly, she noted graves of children in the yard inscribed with messages like “Your sister misses you.”
UNRWA reported that Israeli attacks have affected 165 of its installations in Gaza since October 7, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. According to Gaza health authorities, the violence has resulted in significant casualties, with over 34,480 Palestinians killed and more than 77,640 wounded, mostly women and children.
UNICEF, part of the ongoing UN humanitarian response, has distributed over 203,000 items of clothing for children. They reported that over 13,000 youngsters have been killed, with at least 17,000 children in Gaza now unaccompanied or separated from their families. The conflict has left approximately seven in 10 houses damaged or destroyed, further compounding the suffering of Gazan civilians.
