Amid early reports that an Israeli strike on a UN-run school in Gaza overnight into Thursday left dozens dead, humanitarians warned that cholera and other potentially deadly diseases stalk people uprooted by the war, forced to live among "mountains of rubbish".
"UNRWA can confirm that one of our schools in the Nuseirat area (Middle Areas) was hit overnight / early morning by Israeli Forces. The school was possibly hit several times," the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said. "The number of those reported killed is between 35 and 45. Scores others are injured. We are not able to confirm the above figure at this stage."
Children caught up in war
Local officials in Gaza reported that 37 people were killed in the school building attack in Nuseirat refugee camp near Deir Al Balah in central Gaza. The toll included 14 children, it was also reported.
Media reports indicated that the Israeli military announced that the strike's objective was to eliminate Hamas operatives and that it was only given the go-ahead after aerial surveillance, with additional measures taken to reduce the risk to civilians.
In an early response condemning the school attack, UNRWA said that since the war began, more than 170 buildings belonging to the UN agency had been hit, killing of over 450 displaced people in those facilities.
"The vast majority" were schools-turned-shelters, UNRWA said, as it issued a reminder "to all parties to the conflict that schools and other UN premises must never be used for military or fighting purposes…UN facilities must be protected at all times."
