Khan Younis: A City Overwhelmed by a Million Refugees, Struggling for Survival Amid Conflict
Khan Younis, a city in the Gaza Strip, is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as an influx of over a million refugees has overwhelmed its already struggling infrastructure. These refugees have fled to Khan Younis from northern Gaza, as Israel issued orders to evacuate the area amidst ongoing Israeli bombardment. The city, originally home to around 400,000 residents, is now burdened with a population far exceeding its capacity, leading to severe shortages of essential resources.
In this densely populated region, where options are limited due to a blockade from all sides and a lack of access to the outside world, safety remains uncertain. With the threat of Israel’s bombs and a looming ground invasion, the people of Gaza have sought refuge in Khan Younis, a place already exhausted by the ongoing conflict.
The crisis has led to a dire shortage of resources, as the main hospital in Khan Younis has transformed into a refuge, with patients, casualties from the north, and refugees crowding the premises. The hospital struggles to provide medical care as supplies have dwindled, and water is rationed, with patients receiving only 300ml a day. Refugees often receive nothing.
Residents of Khan Younis have taken in new arrivals, making the already cramped living conditions even more challenging. Families that once lived in small apartments are now accommodating 50 or 60 people, living in extremely close quarters. Schools, considered “safe” during wartime and run by the UN relief agency UNRWA, are teeming with tens of thousands of families, using every available space.
When the schools are filled to capacity, the overflow of humanity spills onto the streets, alleyways, and underpasses, leaving people to live and sleep in dire conditions, with little food, fuel, and water. These desperate circumstances are further compounded by the regular bombings and drone activity, as well as the ever-present threat of conflict escalation.
The option of leaving Gaza through the Rafah crossing into Egypt, the only potential way out, remains closed. Opening it would risk overwhelming the crossing and creating a humanitarian disaster. Egypt fears that when the crossing eventually opens, it will lead to a chaotic and catastrophic situation, similar to what was witnessed in 2014 when thousands attempted to escape the war.
As the crisis in Gaza deepens, the situation in Khan Younis serves as a stark reminder of the dire circumstances faced by those caught in the crossfire of the conflict. Amidst the backdrop of a looming ground invasion and ongoing violence, the people of Gaza endure extreme hardships with uncertain prospects for their future.
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