The United Nations is “extremely worried” about the fate of civilians in Rafah ahead of an expected Israeli ground invasion, spokesman Stephane Dujarric has said.
“I think what is clear is that people need to be protected. But we also do not want to see any forced displacement, forced mass displacement of people, which is, by definition, against their will,” Dujarric told reporters in New York.
Dujarric said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that the “unprecedented density of Rafah’s population makes it nearly impossible to protect civilians in the event of ground attacks”.
“We’re trying to keep civilians clothed,” Dujarric said.
“We’re trying to keep civilians [to] have a medical treatment, keep them dry and warm. It is nearly impossible for us to protect them from tank fire, from artillery shells and so on. And we all see what is going on currently.”
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA, Saturday, February 10, 2024
