A number of displaced Palestinians in the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip said they are facing severe water shortages and wait for hours to obtain drinking water.

They also said that they rely on humanitarian aid to feed their children.

“I was displaced from Rafah to a school in Khan Younis and life is not suitable for living at all. We struggle to get water, we wait for four, five or six hours to find water and then we go home. We save the water for drinking. As for cleaning and washing, we get dirty water for the bathroom and if we want to wash anything, there’s no water available for washing. The available water is for drinking. Here, there’s famine, there’s no food or water, we walk long distances to find a water distribution point or (community) kitchen. Find us a solution,” said Salah Abu Hajeb, a displaced Palestinian.

“We have reached famine. Until when are you waiting? Children are dying on the streets; they can’t find food or water. Diseases are spreading among children, gastrointestinal inflammation and diarrhea. Until when will you keep waiting, watching us, just move and do something. What shall we do or where shall we go? Who should we appeal to? Everyone is sitting and watching us die, until when?” said Enayat Abu Hamid, another displaced Palestinian.

"We came to Khan Younis. We found no water, food, or drink. As you can see, we walk long distances searching for water that is not even available, and we are struggling with the severe water shortage," said Abdul Rahman Khudura, another displaced Palestinian.

Meanwhile, a United Nations spokesperson said they are assessing the situation in the Gaza Strip to send humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians and are trying to continue providing aid in a manner that considers the safety of both the organization's staff and Palestinian civilians.

Stéphane Dujarric, the United Nations spokesperson, said: “Every day we assess the situation and look at how we can operate safely, both for our own staff, but really most importantly, for those who are receiving the aid. We continue to deliver aid in an opportunistic manner, and every day we try to do more. But every day, we need to grab whatever opportunities we can while continuing to operate in a conflict zone."

Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that with the approach of famine, complete lawlessness is also present in the Gaza Strip, which has hindered the organization's relief operations.