Evacuations in Gaza
Today, Dec. 3, 2023, is officially the 58th day of the Israel-Hamas war. While the whole world has been observing and anticipating that the war may eventually improve, it appears that it actually may be getting worse, particularly for civilians.
Concern and disarray have consumed much of southern Gaza, as there have been additional evacuation orders set into place as of today. These orders have many people assuming that there will be an invasion in the South after the closing of the weeklong truce Israel had with Hamas.
In late October, there were evacuation orders in the northern part of Gaza before the attacks to move as many people as possible out of harm’s way. Yet, when northern Gaza evacuated, they were told to go toward southern Gaza. According to Time, “Some 2 million Palestinians, almost Gaza's entire population, are now crammed into the territory's southern half." This article was published on Dec. 2, a day before the evacuation in southern Gaza. Yet, it now serves as an example of a large number of people from both the north and south who evacuated today. This then leaves millions of people on the streets seeking to find somewhere to live and find safety.
To further complicate matters, evacuation orders in Gaza have been quite difficult for the residents to follow. Every time Gaza residents have been ordered to evacuate, the Israeli military has consistently provided them with maps indicating which areas are safe and which are not. Yet, due to the severity of the war and airstrikes, there is a continuous blackout of electricity and communication, making it challenging for individuals to access the map. The New York Times states: “Some families whose homes and shelters were not included in the initial evacuation areas, and who had thought they would be able to stay put, said they had later received recorded calls ordering them to leave.” These miscommunications, given the circumstances, can be life-threatening to countless people, children, and families. All evacuation notices are crucial and must include all locations, ensuring the effective protection of the people of Gaza.
Although evacuation notices aim to protect Gaza citizens, it's inefficient when they have nowhere safer to go. Once the people of Gaza eventually know if they are to evacuate or not, they then need to figure out where they and their belongings are intended to go. The New York Times additionally states: “[There are] families spilled from their apartments, carrying mattresses and blankets, and searching for wood and whatever else they could find to build makeshift shelters, according to Yousef Hammash, an advocacy officer for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Khan Younis.”
What these articles make evident is that the proposed safety evacuations are not making the people of Gaza any safer. If there is no transportation or even buildings for people to retreat to, they have to travel by foot and make shelters themselves with unreliable material. There is no other source of safety for the citizens in Gaza after they evacuate, and they are left to protect themselves. It is impractical for individuals to survive if they are constantly evacuating and moving from one location to another in an attempt to escape unpredictable attacks.
It is important to recognize the suffering of the people in Gaza and to take steps to help and bring attention to them. If you are looking for a way to help, there are numerous donation organizations that you can do right from your device. One main organization is the Palestine Red Crescent Society. This organization has recently provided humanitarian aid to people in northern and southern Gaza and is continuing to do so. If you want to donate, go to https://www.palestinercs.org/en and click donate in the right-hand corner. Then, choose the amount you want to donate, and you’re done. If donating is not an option, looking at their programs, reports, and other aid-providing organizations to supplement your overall education on the war can still make a difference in spreading knowledge and awareness about this humanitarian issue.