Inside Rafah border town desperate Palestinians have nowhere left to turn

Tens of thousands who have evacuated to the ‘safe zone’ face lack of food, water and shelter and fear further bomb strikes

After a short gasp, Shahd al-Modallal states flatly: “Oh, there’s a bomb.” An explosion follows. An airstrike has targeted Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost town and the most recent destination for the Palestinian enclave’s displaced people.

Tens of thousands of people have arrived in Rafah over the past week since the end of a temporary pause on fighting in Gaza. People are sleeping in the streets, in public buildings and any other available empty space. Schools and evacuation shelters are already full.