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Rafah: A Ghost Town Amidst Ongoing Crisis
Two months ago, the city of Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip, was home to nearly two million residents who sought refuge from escalating violence across the region. Today, however, Rafah stands in stark contrast to its former self. Once bustling with activity, it has now been transformed into a desolate ghost town. The city is marked by bullet-ridden buildings and streets littered with rubble, serving as a haunting testament to the severe conflict that has ravaged it.
Israel's military forces have asserted that they have nearly achieved their objective of defeating Hamas fighters in Rafah, which has been a significant stronghold of the group. This claim comes after intense fighting and a prolonged siege. For the first time since the outbreak of the conflict in May, international media have been permitted to enter Rafah, offering a rare glimpse into the dire situation on the ground.
Previously, Rafah had served as a sanctuary for those fleeing violence from other parts of Gaza. However, the city's current state tells a different story. The once vibrant urban center is now largely deserted, with only a fraction of its original population remaining under dire circumstances. Before the recent conflict, Rafah had a population of approximately 275,000. The United Nations estimates that this number has drastically decreased, with only about 50,000 residents still in the city.
The humanitarian situation in Rafah is severe and deteriorating. Efforts to deliver essential aid have been severely hampered due to the dangerous conditions prevailing in the city. Humanitarian organizations report that only minimal aid has been able to reach those in need. This dire situation is exacerbated by the fact that Gaza as a whole is approaching a critical shortage of fuel, which is crucial for the operation of hospitals, emergency vehicles, and water desalination plants.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, the regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean at the World Health Organization, has highlighted the acute crisis in medical services. "The hospitals are once again short on fuel, risking disruption of critical services," she stated. Dr. Balkhy emphasized that the lack of fuel is causing significant delays in ambulance services, leading to increased mortality among the injured due to inadequate and delayed medical attention.
The situation in Rafah serves as a stark reminder of the humanitarian impact of prolonged conflict. With aid delivery obstructed and essential services on the brink of collapse, the international community faces pressing challenges in addressing the needs of the remaining population and working towards a resolution to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Original article:
Two months ago, the city of Rafah sheltered almost two million Gaza residents. Now, it stands as a deserted ghost town with bullet-ridden buildings and empty streets filled with rubble.
Israel claims it has almost defeated Hamas forces in the city, a key stronghold identified earlier this year.
The military invited international media to Rafah for the first time since the war began in May.
The city, previously a haven for those fleeing conflict, is now largely abandoned, with a small fraction of its pre-war population remaining in dire conditions.
About 1.4 million Palestinians crammed into Rafah after fleeing fighting elsewhere in Gaza. The UN estimates that Rafah still has about 50,000 people, compared with its pre-war population of about 275,000.
Efforts to deliver aid have stalled due to the dangerous environment, with only minimal aid making it through.
Humanitarian groups warn that as aid delivery remains frozen, Gaza edges closer to running out of fuel, which is needed for hospitals, vehicles, and water desalination plants to function.
“The hospitals are once again short on fuel, risking disruption of critical services,” Dr. Hanan Balkhy, the World Health Organization’s regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean said. “Injured people are dying because the ambulance services are facing delays due to fuel shortages.”
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