UN Humanitarian Work Halted by Evacuation Order

Gaza Strip: The UN has warned humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip has been dealt a serious blow as Israel ordered a new evacuation in the centre of the besieged territory.

It came as the US announced “progress” in Gaza truce talks under way in Cairo, even following a major but brief cross-border escalation between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

On Sunday, the Israeli military ordered people to “evacuate immediately” a part of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, sparking a rapid exodus of civilians and displacing UN and NGO workers.

“Our humanitarian colleagues are particularly worried about the order” which “effectively upends a whole lifesaving humanitarian hub that was set up in Deir el-Balah following its evacuation from Rafah back in May”, the UN’s Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement.

The order had affected 15 premises hosting UN and NGO aid workers, UN warehouses, a water desalination plant and medical facilities, including the key Al-Aqsa hospital, one of a few still operating in Gaza, the OCHA said.

“It severely impacts our ability to deliver essential support and services.”

The latest developments came as UN agencies have planned to conduct mass vaccinations after the first polio case there in 25 years.

The Israeli military said on Monday it was targeting “terror operatives” in Deir el-Balah and working to dismantle the “remaining terrorist infrastructure” of Hamas.

In Washington, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said there was “progress” in the truce talks.