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Palestinians fleeing Rafah, southern Gaza, sit near their tents in Khan Younis, May 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group. (Photo –/AFP via Getty Images)

Aid agencies have warned that any escalation in Rafah risks worsening the already deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders and Palestinian Red Crescent officials expressed concern that hostilities are escalating while aid is being restricted from entering the enclave.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) called for the border crossings to be opened to allow more aid to enter.

“The closure of crossings by Israeli occupation forces, especially the vital Rafah crossing – which is the main supply artery for the whole of Gaza – prevents the entry of humanitarian aid, including food, medicine and fuel, and creates a problem. “Imminent humanitarian and health disaster,” the PRCS said in a statement.

Adel Khodar, UNICEF’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, echoed those concerns.

“Civilians, already exhausted, malnourished and exposed to multiple traumatic events, are now facing increasing deaths, injuries and displacement in the ruins of their communities,” Khodar said.

He added, “The humanitarian operations that had become the only lifeline for the entire population in the entire enclave are under threat.”

“Major northern hospitals in the evacuation zone, including Kamal Adwan, Al Awda and Indonesian hospitals, have been caught in the crossfire, severely disrupting the delivery of vital medical supplies and putting many lives at risk. Who are in imminent danger of famine and are now deprived of any assistance,” Khodar said.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it had to stop providing care at the Indonesian field hospital in Rafah due to the Israeli attack.

“We have had to abandon 12 different health structures and endure 26 violent incidents, including airstrikes that damaged hospitals, tanks on shelters outside the conflict,” said emergency chief Michel-Olivier Lacharite. There was firing, attacks on medical centers and convoys.” Operations in MSF.

MSF has resumed operations at Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, focusing on orthopedic surgery, burn care and occupational therapy. The organization said MSF workers fled Nasser Hospital in mid-February after Israeli forces ordered an evacuation before attacking the facility.