A senior UN official has said United Nations humanitarian aid operations in Gaza have ground to a halt after Israel issued new evacuation orders for Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, Reuters reports.

“We’re unable to deliver today with the conditions that we’re in,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“We’re not leaving [Gaza] because the people need us there,” the official said. “We’re trying to balance the need of the population with the need for safety and security of the UN personnel.”

The official said UN staff on the ground had been directed to try and find a way to keep operating.

The official said the UN had relocated its main command operations for the Gaza Strip and most UN personnel to Deir al-Balah after Israel ordered the evacuation of Rafah in the south of Gaza.

“Where do we move now?” said the official, adding that UN staff had to be moved so quickly that equipment was left behind.

“The challenge is to find a place where we can reset and effectively operate,” the official said. “The space to operate is being restricted more and more than ever.”