1.5 million displaced in Gaza, says UN

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The number of displaced people in Gaza reached 1.5 million, according to a senior UN humanitarian official on Friday.

"The number of displaced in Gaza stands now at 1.5 million, with more than 690,000 sheltering in UNWRA facilities, and other places people hope are safe, including hospitals, churches, and schools," Lynn Hastings, UN Assistant Secretary-General, Humanitarian Coordinator in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said.

Speaking at a press briefing, she emphasized the challenging situation, stating, "The reality is nowhere is truly safe."

Close to 9,000 people in Gaza have been killed and more than 22,000 injured, she also said, citing the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

"More than two-thirds of those are estimated to be women and children," she added.

Hastings also said that the cost of meeting the needs of the entire population of Gaza and 500,000 people in the West Bank until the end of the year is estimated to be 1.2 billion.

The Israeli army has widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by Hamas on Oct. 7.