MSF staff in Gaza describe “inhumane” new evacuation orders

Palestinians in Gaza continue to face overwhelming needs, including a lack of water and sanitation—with nowhere left to go.

August 21, 2024

Displaced Palestinians flee Rafah, southern Gaza.

Displaced Palestinians leave Rafah after an evacuation order on May 6, 2024. An estimated 1.9 million people have been displaced by the war, often multiple times. | Palestine 2024 © MSF

Thousands of people in Gaza are fleeing to different areas in Al-Mawasi after Israeli forces issued evacuation orders for Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis today. Among those fleeing are Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) staff.

“The continuous forced displacement of people is inhumane,” says MSF project coordinator Jacob Granger. “People have no belongings left, nowhere left to go. There is no room to put tents up. The overcrowding, severe lack of water, and minimal sanitation services are fueling the spread of diseases. We are unable to keep up with the overwhelming needs.”

Diseases are thriving due to shrinking living space and lack of water and hygiene products. “We are seeing an increase in skin conditions such as scabies—most linked to the lack of water and hygiene products like soap,” says Julie Faucon, MSF medical coordinator. “With the constant bombardments forcing people to seek shelter in a shrinking space, conditions are worsening and diseases will continue to spread, impacting the most vulnerable, such as children.”

People have no belongings left, nowhere left to go. There is no room to put tents up. The overcrowding, the severe lack of water and minimal sanitation services is fueling the spread of diseases. We are unable to keep up with the overwhelming needs.
Jacob Granger, MSF project coordinator

Between July 1 and August 21, at least 16 evacuation orders have been issued by Israeli forces in Gaza. Nearly 2 million people—over 85% of the entire population of Gaza—has been displaced by this war, often multiple times.

“My family and I are dismantling the tent and packing our things [to move],” says Khamis Amir, an MSF radio operator who was displaced by the August 21 evacuation order. “My children are gathering their toys and belongings so they don't get lost. We don’t know where to go. When will this war end?”

Palestinians in Gaza need an immediate and sustained ceasefire. All parties must ensure unhindered humanitarian aid to meet the immediate and urgent medical needs of people.