At least 13,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes in Gaza as the bombardment continues into its seventh day, Save the Children said today.

More than half of those displaced people are children.

Spokesman Dominic Nutt said: "Gaza, with a population of 1.51 million is one of the most densely populated strips of land in the world and many hundreds of homes are being hit by the airstrikes, causing fear and anxiety amongst the thousands of civilians caught in the crossfire.

"Many are seeking shelter away from areas that have been hit and are staying with relatives in over-crowded apartments. We are hearing of small apartments that have no water or electricity, which are now housing as many as 18 people.

"With overcrowding and no water to flush toilets or to wash, conditions in many homes will be unpleasant and unhygienic," said Mr Nutt.

The survey, undertaken by Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, which is an organisation which has worked with Save the Children for four years, is only an estimate, Save the Children warned.

"Given the extreme risk faced by anyone moving around the streets of Gaza at the moment, the figure cannot 100 per cent accurate," said Mr Nutt. "But the information has been gathered by field workers based in all districts of Gaza. If anything it is likely to be a conservative estimate."

Mr Nutt warned that children forced to flee their homes would suffer extreme distress.

"Home for a child represents security and safety. This security is vital at times of extreme stress and there can be nothing more stressful than experiencing seven days of intense bombing.

"To be forced to flee your home, sometimes at night, as the bombs fall around you - often with only a few minutes' notice - is terrifying.

There is a high risk that the effects of such trauma will severely damage a child for the long term."

Mr Nutt added that it was likely more people would be forced to flee their homes as the military operation continued.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Save the Children has staff on the ground in Gaza, Ramallah, and Jerusalem available for interviews. For more information or interview requests please call Susannah Parker in the Save the Children press office on 0207 012 6848 or email s.parker@savethechildren.org.uk. If out of hours please call the 24-hour media mobile on 07831 650 409.

Save the Children has launched an email for £6.8 million to help people in Gaza.