Palestinians fleeing war see 'dead bodies on the street,' as illness spreads at UN shelters

Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza have reported seeing dead bodies in the streets, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies. 

Palestinians are fleeing the north as the UN reports that only one out of 24 hospitals with in-patient capacity in the area is open and admitting patients. 

In its latest report, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that three hospitals have shut down in the last three days alone. 

Meanwhile, the Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that it has been unable to respond to hundreds of calls to assist and evacuate people wounded or trapped under the rubble after Israeli strikes. 

As of 10 November, about 2,700 people, including some 1,500 children, remain missing and presumed to be trapped or dead under the rubble, according to Palestinian health officials.

An up-to-date death toll remains unavailable for the fifth day because communications and services at hospitals in the north have collapsed. 

Palestinians fleeing the war have also been subject to beatings and strip searches, the UN said, citing “anecdotal and eyewitness reports”.

On 14 November, Palestinians reported that the Israeli military had established an unstaffed checkpoint where people are directed from a distance to pass through. A surveillance system is thought to be installed and Palestinians are being forced to undergo what appears to be a facial recognition scan.

Over 1.5 million people in Gaza are now internally displaced, the UN said, including about 813,000 who are sheltering at 154 overcrowded UN shelters.

The UN said the deteriorating conditions are leading to the spread of disease, including acute respiratory illness and diarrhoea, raising environmental and health concerns.