Displacements due to new evacuation orders, escalation of violence and food shortages in Gaza and West Bank, Highlights of the noon briefing by Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General – 08 August 2024

08 August 2024

(Excerpt)

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

Concerning the situation in Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that our partners on the ground have observed thousands of people fleeing west toward Al Mawasi, after the Israeli military issued a new evacuation order earlier today.

The directive affects people located in parts of eastern and central Khan Younis, as well as the Al Salqa area of Deir al Balah. Initial estimates from our partners monitoring population in movements in Gaza indicate that more than 15,500 people had been living in those areas, which comprise more than 30 neighbourhoods.

Once again, we call for all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by taking constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects. This includes allowing civilians to leave for safer areas and allowing their return as soon as circumstances allow. People must be able to receive humanitarian assistance, whether they move or stay.

Meanwhile, OCHA warns that constraints on water production and sewage pumping in Gaza continue to expose Palestinians to major health risks. Efforts to scale up the water, sanitation and hygiene response are hampered by a lack of generators and alternative energy sources, as well as shortages of spare parts to operate existing generators.

The lack of fuel is another major challenge. Late last month, our humanitarian partners working to support water, sanitation and hygiene services in Gaza say they received just over 75,000 litres of fuel. This is a 29 per cent increase compared to June – but still just 70 per cent of the minimum operational threshold.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme warns that ongoing hostilities, damaged roads, and the lack of public order and safety have severely hampered food transport operations in Gaza, forcing WFP to reduce rations. WFP urgently needs fuel deliveries, increased flow of food supplies, and greater capacity to deliver hot meals, particularly in Gaza City and North Gaza.

The agency says they reached some one million people in Gaza in July but stressed that food distribution points continue to face major disruptions due to conflict, evacuation orders, and damage to infrastructure.

WFP warns that it will be unable to bring in the quantity of food required this month unless more border crossing points into Gaza open and aid workers are able to reach people safely and at scale. The agency was only able to bring in half the quantity of food needed in July.

And in the West Bank, WFP estimates that the escalation of violence there could push the number of people facing food insecurity up to at least 600,000. At the start of last year, some 352,000 people in the West Bank were food insecure.

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