Unrwa official: Gaza reduced to a ‘graveyard’ amid worsening crisis

Unrwa emergency officer Louise Wateridge, speaking from Nuseirat in central Gaza, has described the dire humanitarian conditions in the besieged territory, where repeated Israeli attacks have left residents exposed to cold and rain with little shelter.

“The world is not seeing what’s going on with these people—it’s impossible for families to shelter in these conditions,” said Wateridge, highlighting the desperate need for aid as heavy rains were forecast to worsen the situation on Friday evening.

She noted that most residents are living under makeshift fabric shelters, lacking even basic waterproof structures. “Sixty-nine percent of the buildings here have been damaged or destroyed. There’s absolutely nowhere for people to shelter from these elements,” Wateridge added.

Describing the catastrophic state of Gaza, she remarked, “An entire society here is now a graveyard. Over 2 million people are trapped. They cannot escape. And people continue to have basic needs deprived, and it just feels like every path here that you could possibly take is leading to death.”