World Courant
Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip – In an space of lower than 3 sq. kilometers, 100,000 folks wrestle to outlive. This small a part of Gaza is rapidly changing into uninhabitable.
“We place waste in distant areas on the sting of the camp, however these areas are full,” Hatem al-Ghamri, the mayor of the Maghazi refugee camp within the Gaza Strip, instructed Al Jazeera. “We face an actual catastrophe.”
Maghazi, the smallest refugee camp in Gaza, positioned close to Deir el-Balah within the middle of the enclave, usually homes 30,000 folks. Now, with the displacement of residents fleeing Israel’s relentless bombing within the north and west, the inhabitants has greater than tripled as Israeli airstrikes on properties and shelters right here proceed.
The camp is in deep trouble. With waste piling up, whole lack of water and large overcrowding, outbreaks of illness have begun.
Regardless of its location on the south facet of the Strip – the place Israeli forces ordered civilians from the north to flee earlier than starting their floor invasion from the north – the small camp has been topic to heavy artillery and air assaults.
Such air raids on civilian camps and infrastructure have develop into commonplace. The Jabalia refugee camp has been focused at the very least thrice, ensuing within the deaths of a whole lot of Palestinians. Civilian infrastructure, together with faculties, has additionally been topic to bombing within the south.
Palestinians seek for survivors of the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip within the Maghazi refugee camp, November 5, 2023 (Fatima Shbair/AP Photograph)
Bakery and water wells bombed
Within the Maghazi camp, Israeli airstrikes destroyed the one bakery within the camp on October 26, the mayor mentioned. For seven days in a row, not a single loaf of bread was distributed to the residents.
The Maghazi camp contains two shelters for displaced civilians in two UNRWA faculties, every now housing 12,000 folks. A 3rd UNRWA faculty was bombed.
Because of overcrowding, displaced folks in UNRWA faculties face growing challenges, together with the unfold of ailments akin to smallpox and scabies, and an absence of entry to important sources akin to water, meals and baby requirements akin to diapers and milk. Ladies additionally do not need entry to sanitary pads.
“The Maghazi camp has seven water sources, two of which have been focused in the course of the occupation within the japanese space,” al-Ghamri mentioned. “The remaining 5 wells can’t be operated by the municipality as a result of the Israeli occupation prevents gas entry to the Gaza Strip.
“We’d like 300 to 500 liters of gas to function the 5 wells, and we additionally have to pump 3,000 cups. With the rise within the variety of displaced folks, we’ve to pump double the quantity, however we can’t try this.”
Bugs and epidemics start to unfold within the Maghazi camp as a result of accumulation of great quantities of waste. Employees now not have entry to the same old dumps in Wadi Gaza and east of town of Rafah.
Along with the unfold of illness, folks face the prospect of famine. “We face nice challenges in offering meals to the Maghazi camp,” al-Ghamri mentioned.
“All municipalities within the Gaza Strip are experiencing deteriorating machines that should be changed, and we’re working to keep up them periodically,” he mentioned.
“There are solely two autos accessible within the municipality of Maghazi, and they’re used not just for municipal duties, but in addition for transporting these injured on account of the repeated violent Israeli assaults. They’re additionally used for the transport of meals help.”
Ladies and kids flee as Israeli airstrikes hit properties in Maghazi refugee camp, November 6, 2023 (Yasser Qudih/Reuters)
Arrival of flour ‘a miracle’
The municipality of Maghazi obtained 1,000 baggage of flour, however solely by likelihood, the mayor mentioned.
“The flour was supplied miraculously. When the occupation tanks attacked a automotive on Salah al-Din Road on Monday, we have been close by and the UNRWA truck was on its option to Gaza Metropolis within the west of the Gaza Strip. It refused to proceed its journey and contacted UNRWA to distribute this quantity (as an alternative) to the Maghazi camp,” al-Ghamri mentioned.
Nonetheless, it will not final lengthy. The mayor defined that the camp wants 5,000 baggage of flour, every containing 25 kg, to produce the residents and displaced folks right here each few days.
There are 30 municipal employees in Maghazi, who every work eight hours on regular days. These days they work across the clock, beneath more and more harmful situations.
“When one of many wells was focused, municipal workers have been working there,” al-Ghamri mentioned. “ Miraculously, they survived, and a few of them have been injured by shrapnel from the bombardment.
“Beneath the coordination of UNRWA, the Crimson Cross and the Ramallah Water Authority, a municipal employee inspected the primary water line for the complete central area of the Gaza Strip. We’re at present engaged on its restore after the Israeli occupation attacked and destroyed it.”
The mayor mentioned the municipality has run out of choices.
“Israeli aggression within the Gaza Strip has resulted within the killing of 10,000 Palestinians, the vast majority of whom are youngsters and girls. Israel targets docs, well being care employees, journalists, ambulance crews and civil protection personnel.
“Everybody in Gaza is being focused.”
‘We face a catastrophe,’ warns mayor of Gaza’s Maghazi camp | Israeli-Palestinian Battle Information
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