Gazans Flee amid Shelling, no Transport or Shelter

UN News Displacement in Gaza: Abu Nader Siam (left), walking with his wife Zakia Siam (middle).

Thousands of Palestinian families continue to flee northern Gaza amid escalating Israeli military operations, dire humanitarian conditions, and a lack of transportation.

According to UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA, the average cost of travelling south exceeds $3,000 — an impossible sum for most families.

Along the densely populated coastal al-Rashid Road, residents are attempting to escape following Israeli evacuation orders, enduring grueling journeys toward central and southern Gaza. A UN News correspondent documented scenes of families travelling on foot: some dragging carts of belongings, others — including women and children — resting after hours of walking.

The Gaza Valley Bridge in central Gaza has been overwhelmed by the influx.

‘All houses and neighbourhoods were bombed’

Elderly resident Abu Nader Siam walked with a cane beside his wife, Zakia. “I come from the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood in Gaza City. They left no house or neighbourhood without bombing it,” he said.

Zakia described their ordeal: “We went from Shujaiya to Sha’af before it was bombed. Later, we stayed two nights by the seashore without a tent, sitting on the sidewalk before walking again.”

Death and devastation

Another displaced civilian, Um Shadi al-Ashkar, said: “There is death, shelling, bombing and destruction of houses. If there had been no shelling, people would have stayed in their homes.”

‘I lost 25 family members’

Ayman al-Khatib said most of his family was killed in Jabalia camp. “More than 25 of my relatives — my children, wife, mother, brothers and their wives — were killed,” he told UN News. Only his aunt, two nephews, and a son survived.

“We fled under bombardment, but we couldn’t find transport. They asked for 2,000 shekels for a ride, but we had no money. We have no tent, nothing.”

Displacement surges

UNRWA reports the average cost of displacement to the south is $3,180 per family. With fuel scarce and shelter supplies blocked for seven months, conditions are worsening.

OCHA said over 250,000 people have been displaced from Gaza City in the past month, including 60,000 in just three days, as Israeli troops advanced into neighbourhoods such as Sheikh Radwan and Tal al-Hawa.