New York, United States - August 26, 2024

Israel's frequent evacuation orders for civilians in the Gaza Strip have seriously impeded humanitarian aid operations of the United Nations (UN), said UN officials.

Officials from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said that as Israel continues to issue evacuation orders, Gaza civilians are being forced to live in increasingly smaller areas, which is having a devastating impact on the humanitarian situation.

Meanwhile, the UN's humanitarian operations have also been increasingly restricted in the past few months.

According to a UN official, the evacuation order issued by Israel on Sunday in Deir al Balah covers the UN's important supply center in Gaza. This saw the UN having to suspend its humanitarian supplies on the day. The official noted that the UN would not leave Gaza and is trying to get as much aid as possible to Gaza residents.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the U.N. Secretary-General, said the Israeli military has released 16 evacuation orders in August as of Monday, which has bogged down the UN's humanitarian aid operations.

Shotlist:
New York, NY, USA - Aug 26, 2024:
FILE: UN Headquarters, New York City - July 24, 2024
1. United Nations (UN) headquarters, national flags;
2. UN flag;
UN Headquarters, New York City - Aug 26, 2024
3. Reporters;
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Louise Wateridge, spokesperson, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (starting with shot 3):
"There is nowhere to find safety. There is very limited access to humanitarian resources because the humanitarian operations are also being displaced within these evacuation orders and the humanitarian response here is being completely strangled and limited our ability of what we can do.";
Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Aug 1, 2024
5. Various of rubble, destroyed buildings;
UN Headquarters, New York City - Aug 26, 2024
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sam Rose, senior deputy field director for UNRWA in Gaza (partially overlaid with shot 7):
"We continue to operate as UNRWA. Day in, day out, the staff get up, most of them living in tents in the most abject conditions to serve their communities. That will continue for as long as is possible. But if there ever comes a day when we're not able to continue, it would be an absolute catastrophe for the people who have nowhere else to turn for healthcare, for education, for water, for sanitation and for protection.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
7. Reporters;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Aug 1-3, 2024
8. Displaced people, vehicles on street;
Khan Younis, Gaza Strip - Recent
9. Displaced people fleeing with belongings;
UN Headquarters, New York City - Aug 26, 2024
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General (starting with shot 9):
"We've counted 16. These evacuation orders, I think, as you've been told just this [Monday] morning from various people, make our work nearly impossible. Part of protecting civilians is ensuring that civilians can eat, that people can wash themselves, they have access to medicine, they have access to the most basic needs that human beings need to survive.";
Gaza Strip - Aug 12, 2024
11. Various of displaced people at shelter.

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