In the past 72 hours, more than 38,000 Gazans have had to flee their homes and seek shelter inside schools run by the UN.
Israel has launched a powerful air assault on Gaza, which is considered to be one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
The Israeli military says it is aiming at Hamas militants and installations but to date at least 192 people have been killed in Gaza, including 58 children and 34 women.
The Israeli death toll stood at 10 yesterday, including a boy, 5, and a soldier.
The heaviest round of fighting since the 2014 conflict between Israel and Hamas has left civilians traumatised.
“Last night was the worst night in terms of military fighting,” said Matthias Schmale, Gaza operations director of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
"We had at 2am, I think, 11 or 12 massive hits in the surrounding area and it’s frightening, it’s terrifying. For civilians it's terrifying.”
The shelling has become so intense that more than 38,000 people have fled their homes.
"People just started packing up and leaving their homes out of fear," Mr Schmale told The National from the UNRWA's offices in Gaza.
While the UN said it is equipped to handle up to 100,000 people at 50 schools spread out across Gaza, it is concerned that the cramped conditions could lead to another surge in Covid-19 cases.
Gaza was on the end of a second wave, which had killed 400 people in March and April, when this latest round of violence started.
“We have thousands of unvaccinated people together in not big spaces,” Mr Schmale said.
“In Covid terms we are racing against time to try to make sure that we at least separate people with symptoms from those who don't, and we provide PPE.”
The fighting has also stopped the UN’s vaccination work in Gaza. “For the last week our vaccination programme has been at a standstill,” he said.
Mr Schmale said that the halt in inoculations could make it harder to prevent a third wave of the virus.
“People will be less resilient because we just won't have the numbers in terms of vaccinated people.”
He said that if the fighting continued for much longer, there was a strong possibility of a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, compounding an already difficult situation.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
Blue%20Beetle
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Angel%20Manuel%20Soto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EXolo%20Mariduena%2C%20Adriana%20Barraza%2C%20Damian%20Alcazar%2C%20Raoul%20Max%20Trujillo%2C%20Susan%20Sarandon%2C%20George%20Lopez%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
