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Patients at Rafah Indonesian Field Hospital are being evacuated, the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity has said.

In a statement on X, the charity said the impact of an offensive on Rafah will have “disastrous effects for over a million people” and the living conditions for people “will just get worse”.

“We have begun to discharge patients at Rafah Indonesian Field Hospital, those who can walk, as we also prepare for a possible evacuation,” Aurelie Godard, the MSF medical team’s lead, said.

“The few field hospitals or alternative structures being installed will not be able to cope with an influx of wounded patients on top of regular medical needs such as deliveries and chronic diseases.”

“This offensive is also going to further aggravate the damage to the health system, which is barely functioning. Like we saw in the north, some hospitals will no longer be accessible and are at high risk of being hit or destroyed…

— MSF International (@MSF) May 8, 2024

Satellite images show settlements in Rafah as ‘precise’ operation in eastern region begins

A satellite image emerging from southern Rafah shows the tent and shelter camp settlements there.

Israel has ordered the evacuation of 100,000 Palestinians from Rafah city and is also conducting a “precise” operation in the eastern part of the region. 

But fears are growing about the impact such an assault could have on displaced Palestinians.

Egypt previously has warned any seizure of Rafah could see Palestinians fleeing over the border, a scenario that could threaten a 1979 peace deal with Israel.

Nearly 35,000 Palestinians killed since beginning of war

The Hamas-run health ministry says at least 34,844 Palestinians have now been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October.

A further 78,404 have been injured, it added.

It should be noted the figures reported by the ministry do not differentiate between fighters and civilians.