Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) Palestine Situation Report #33 – Reporting period (11/06/2024 to 18/06/2024)

18 June 2024

The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) was activated for the conflict crisis in Gaza on 31 October 2023. Situation Reports are published weekly.

Highlights

• On 16 June, the 30 pre-approved Very High Frequency (VHF) digital radios were transported into Gaza upon the clearance received by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) on 14 June. The obtaining of transportation clearance and transportation of the radios into Gaza was facilitated by the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The ETC is coordinating to handover the radios to the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) to facilitate their distribution among the UN agencies operating in Gaza.
• On 14 June, the ETC coordinated with the Logistics Cluster to facilitate the transportation of the solar- powered kits into Gaza from Jerusalem, which is approved for importation by COGAT.
• On 13 June, the ETC met with Gilat Telecom―a COGAT- approved Israeli vendor―to identify viable satellite- based data solutions for Gaza. The ETC is awaiting technical details and cost estimates on various solutions from Gilat Telecom.
• • On 11 June, Jordan, Egypt, and the UN co-organized a high-level conference titled “Call for Action” to urgently strengthen the humanitarian response in Gaza, as fuel shortages and access constraints continue to severely disrupt the delivery of life-saving aid.

Situation overview

• The security situation in Gaza remains volatile due to the continuing hostilities. Humanitarian operations continue within the limited parameters and responders continue to observe all security measures and protocols, including seeking approved movement authorization. Ground incursions and heavy fighting continue to be reported across Gaza, including in Bedit Hanoun, south of Gaza City, eastern Deir al Balah, northeastern Khan Younis, as well as in eastern, central, and western Rafah.
• On 11 June, Jordan, Egypt, and the UN co-organized a high-level conference titled “Call for Action” to urgently strengthen the humanitarian response in Gaza, as fuel shortages and access constraints continue to severely disrupt the delivery of life-saving aid.
• Since 06 May, intensified hostilities following the issuance of evacuation orders and the ground incursion by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in Rafah has displaced about one million people amid a decline in the entry of humanitarian aid, further crippling the humanitarian operations. Assessments by humanitarian organizations over the past month have highlighted the dire conditions facing displaced families, with significant challenges to their ability to access basic services. The situation has also compelled most of the humanitarian actors to relocate to Deir Al Balah, resulting in most of the humanitarian offices in Rafah being non-operational.