The representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territories says that the situation in the Gaza Strip is “nothing less than catastrophic”, Al Jazeera reports.

“Displaced people in Rafah have no place to stay and are actually living on the streets,” said Ajith Songhai. “The people we interviewed fear that severe violence will spread to Rafah, which will have catastrophic effects on more than 1.3 million people there.”

Songhai added that there is no access to northern Gaza, which remains under Israeli shelling and bombardment, even to provide basic humanitarian assistance.

“Failure to deliver aid violates Israel’s obligations under international law,” Songhai said, adding that continuous attacks continue on medical and UN facilities in Khan Younis, as well as on schools and residential areas.