Medics in Gaza have warned thousands of people could die as overcrowded hospitals are running desperately low on fuel and basic supplies.
Palestinians in the besieged region have struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected ground assault by Israel in a war sparked by Hamas’ terror attacks last Saturday.
Israeli forces are positioned along the Gaza border, supported by US warships in the region.
Palestinians are being encouraged to move towards southern Gaza although many are attempting to leave the country via the closed Egypt-Gaza Rafah border crossing, which is controlled by Egypt.
Humanitarian aid workers are attempting to enter Gaza but Cairo, Israel and Hamas have failed to reach an agreement to re-open the crossing.
Cairo is fearful of opening the border because of security risks and today stepped up its military presence at the crossing.
It is concerned Israel plans to push hundreds of thousands of refugees into Gaza.
The United Nations World Food Programme earlier packed up 100 metric tons of food into trucks which it said were headed to the Rafah border crossing.
It said in a social media post: “Gaza is running out of food … We urgently need safe humanitarian access to Gaza to ensure this food goes through & reaches families on time.”
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said: “An unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding under our eyes.”
Hospitals in Gaza are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, endangering the lives of thousands of patients, according to the UN.
Gaza’s sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 40-kilometre (25-mile) long territory following the Hamas attack.
In Nasser Hospital, in the southern town of Khan Younis, intensive care rooms were packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of 3.
Hundreds of people with severe blast injuries have come to the hospital, where fuel is expected to run out by Monday, said Dr Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex.
There are 35 patients in the ICU who require ventilators and another 60 on dialysis. If fuel runs out, “it means the whole health system will be shut down,” he said.
“All these patients are in danger of death if the electricity is cut off.”
