Fleeing Rafah: Nearly 1 Million Flee in Three Weeks

By: [Author's Name]

August 17, 2023

Nearly 1 million people have fled Rafah in the past three weeks, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The southern Gazan city is under heavy Israeli bombardment after Israeli strikes killed dozens of people on Sunday. Israel has ordered thousands more Rafah residents to evacuate the city as it steps up attacks in Gaza.

The UN human rights chief has warned Israel not to launch a full military operation in Rafah, describing the prospect as "a catastrophe." UNRWA has also called on Israel to immediately lift the siege on Gaza, which has prevented essential supplies from entering the territory.

The exodus from Rafah is the largest displacement of Palestinians since the 1967 war. The UN estimates that more than 1.5 million Palestinians have been displaced from Gaza since the start of the Israeli offensive on July 8.