The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced that nearly 74,000 displaced people are now in 64 UNRWA schools and shelters, with numbers likely to increase as heavy shelling and airstrikes continue including on civilian areas.

An UNRWA school sheltering displaced families in the Gaza Strip was directly hit. The school, sheltering more than 225 people, was severely damaged, UNRWA said.

UNRWA teams are providing families with shelter and clean water. Supplies are being prepared to deliver to families, including food, hygiene kits and cleaning supplies.

Civilians must be protected at all times, including during fighting. UNRWA supports calls to reach an immediate ceasefire and a halt to the violence everywhere, it added.

Schools and other civilian infrastructure, including those sheltering displaced families, must never come under attack, UNRWA said.

Source: Qatar News Agency