Gaza Humanitarian Access Snapshot #4 (13 - 26 August 2024)

Humanitarian Space Further Eroded Amid Displacement Orders By Israeli Forces and Unprecedented Access Challenges

As of 27 August, 40,435 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and 93,534 reported injured, with many still missing under the rubble. With nowhere to flee, Palestinians face relentless and widespread attacks across the enclave. As the bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces intensifies, the severely constrained and further shrinking humanitarian space has led to unprecedented challenges, further complicated by forced displacement orders and relentless hostilities by Israeli forces. Since the beginning of August, Israeli forces have issued 16 orders demanding civilians immediately leave the area in which they are residing. These orders have been issued in Rafah, Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and North Gaza, affecting approximately 260,000 people, many of whom have already been displaced multiple times.

90% of the population in Gaza is displaced, with more than 88.5% of the Strip under forced displacement orders or marked as no-go zones, pushing the civilian population into a small, overcrowded unilaterally-declared “humanitarian zone” where population density has surged to 30,000 – 34,000 people per square kilometre, compared to just 1,200 before 7 October. This gravely strains basic resources and services and impedes the ability of aid organisations to meet rising needs. For more details, please refer to OCHA Flash Update.