The leading United Nations human rights agency is warning that "hundreds of thousands of civilians" remain trapped in Gaza City and their calls for help "are going unanswered."
"Desperate calls and urgent appeals are being made by civilians who are unable to move from the buildings where they are sheltering because of the presence of Israeli troops, ongoing ground battles or who have been caught in collapsed buildings," the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a statement Tuesday.
It said it is hearing stories of people asking for help to get out of their basements, but then contact getting cut off. Some of them are also reporting that they are trapped with family members who are injured or dead, the statement said.
"We hear from people with disabilities trapped in a rehabilitation center, not receiving any support for evacuation or any humanitarian aid. We hear that all calls are going unanswered as medical and rescue workers have no more capacity to help," the statement said.
OHCHR called for "urgent humanitarian access" to be granted in the northern part of the enclave. The human rights organization also said there must be "sufficient time" and the right conditions for "very difficult evacuations to take place."
"Any evacuations of hospitals must consider the ability of patients, medical staff, and other civilians to evacuate safely and to places patients can be properly cared for," OHCHR said in the statement.