600,000 Internally Displaced People in Gaza Seeking Shelter in 150 UNRWA Facilities

Members of the United Nations and the Red Crescent prepare aid for distribution to the Palestinians at the UNRWA facility in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip (AP)
Members of the United Nations and the Red Crescent prepare aid for distribution to the Palestinians at the UNRWA facility in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip (AP)
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600,000 Internally Displaced People in Gaza Seeking Shelter in 150 UNRWA Facilities

Members of the United Nations and the Red Crescent prepare aid for distribution to the Palestinians at the UNRWA facility in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip (AP)
Members of the United Nations and the Red Crescent prepare aid for distribution to the Palestinians at the UNRWA facility in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip (AP)

Nearly 600,000 internally displaced people are sheltering in 150 facilities of the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) in Gaza.

Also, at least 40 UNRWA installations have been impacted, the UN agency added in a post on Wednesday on the social media platform X.

"Our shelters are four times over their capacities - many people are sleeping in the streets as current facilities are overwhelmed," the agency added.

Since Oct.7, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed in West Bank clashes with the Israeli military, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Israel's military intensified its bombing of southern Gaza overnight after one of the deadliest days for Palestinians since the conflict began as world leaders called for a halt to fighting to allow aid into the besieged enclave.

The United States and Russia are leading international calls for a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas to allow aid into Gaza where Palestinians are living in harrowing conditions.

A total of 704 Palestinians, including 305 children, were killed on Tuesday, the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said, a toll the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said was the highest reported in a single day since the conflict began nearly three weeks ago.



Polls Open in Jordan’s Parliamentary Elections 

A Jordanian voter casts his ballot at a polling station during parliamentary elections in Amman, Jordan September 10, 2024. (Reuters)
A Jordanian voter casts his ballot at a polling station during parliamentary elections in Amman, Jordan September 10, 2024. (Reuters)
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Polls Open in Jordan’s Parliamentary Elections 

A Jordanian voter casts his ballot at a polling station during parliamentary elections in Amman, Jordan September 10, 2024. (Reuters)
A Jordanian voter casts his ballot at a polling station during parliamentary elections in Amman, Jordan September 10, 2024. (Reuters)

Polling stations opened at across Jordan on Tuesday in the country’s 20th parliamentary elections, marking a significant milestone as the Kingdom embarks on its second century.

More than 5.1 million registered voters are eligible to participate, reflecting a broad engagement in the political process, reported the state news agency Petra.

People will cast their votes at 1,649 polling stations across 18 electoral districts, with 5,843 ballot boxes set up. Ninety-five centers have been specially equipped to accommodate voters with disabilities.

Jordan’s electoral system divides the Kingdom into 18 local districts, with 97 seats available for contest. Candidates in the general electoral district will compete for 41 seats, bringing the total number of parliamentary seats to 138.

A total of 697 candidates are running in the general electoral district, including 505 men and 192 women. In the local districts, 937 candidates are competing, with 747 men and 190 women.

Voting will close at 7:00 pm. The counting of votes will begin immediately after the polls close, with results expected within 48 hours.