Israeli Military Expands Operation to Rafah, Adding to Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The Israeli military has announced its expansion of operations to Rafah, a city on the border with Egypt, as part of its mission to oust Hamas from Gaza. This move has raised concerns among aid workers and humanitarian organizations who warn of the already dire humanitarian crisis in the area. Rafah is currently overcrowded with civilians who have been displaced at least once, many of whom are sick or on the verge of famine. Further conflict in the area could cause significant harm to the vulnerable population.
The population of Rafah has swelled to at least 1.4 million people, which is five times its pre-war population. Israeli officials have not specified their plans for Rafah, but the country’s military has already conducted strikes in the area. In December, an airstrike hit near the Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah, resulting in the death of at least 18 people. The war in Gaza has drastically reshaped the demographics of the strip, with almost nine out of ten people now displaced.
The most populated portion of Gaza was previously Gaza City in the north. However, following the Hamas-led assault on Israel that began the war, Israel ordered the evacuation of more than 1 million people living in the areas above the Wadi Gaza wetlands. Many sought refuge in Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city in the south. In December, Israeli authorities ordered Palestinians in Khan Younis to move to new areas as military operations were conducted in the city. As a result, more than half of Gaza’s total population is now believed to be in Rafah.
The situation in Rafah is dire, with many people living in makeshift structures, tents, or out in the open. The lack of aid crossing the border from Egypt is nowhere near enough to meet the needs of the population. Hunger is a significant concern, as food trucks are just miles away from people at risk of starvation. The living conditions in Rafah, with families crowded into tents, resemble the conditions faced by refugees after the 1948 Israeli-Arab war.
Winter temperatures have added to the misery, as the tents provide little protection from the cold and rainy weather. Sanitary precautions have also broken down due to overcrowding, with thousands of people sharing individual toilets. This has led to public health risks, including reports of acute watery diarrhea, which could potentially be cholera.
The humanitarian crisis in Rafah is further compounded by a political one. At least ten Western governments have suspended funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the chief logistical force for aid in Gaza. This decision came after Israel shared a dossier alleging the involvement of more than a dozen UNRWA employees in the October 7 attacks on Israel, as well as widespread support for Hamas and other militant groups within the organization.
The situation in Rafah is a cause for grave concern. The expanding military operation in the area adds to the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Urgent action is needed to address the needs of the displaced population and ensure their safety and well-being. International aid and support are crucial in alleviating the suffering of the people in Rafah and finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza.
