OCHA update on the situation in the Occupied Palestine Territory – 15 October 2024

(Excerpt)

/…

Occupied Palestinian Territory

OCHA warns that the humanitarian situation in northern Gaza is catastrophic as Israeli military operations there intensify, severely compromising people’s access to means of survival.

Health partners warn that only three hospitals in North Gaza Governorate are now operating – and only at minimum capacity. These facilities are facing dire shortages of fuel, blood, trauma items and medications. About 285 patients remain in these hospitals, as military activities continue outside.

Despite the recent evacuation of some patients from Kamal Adwan hospital in the north, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the facility remains overwhelmed, receiving between 50 and 70 newly injured patients each day.

Health partners also report that none of the more than two dozen primary health-care centres in North Gaza Governorate remains functional.

Meanwhile, in central Gaza, as the second round of the polio vaccination campaign continues, OCHA stresses that it is critical the parties respect humanitarian pauses agreed to ensure that the UN and humanitarian partners can reach children in need of the vaccine.

WHO reports that yesterday, about 93,000 children under 10 were vaccinated against polio. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reports that its teams vaccinated 43 per cent of those reached. More than 76,000 children also received Vitamin A supplements.

Meanwhile, OCHA reports that humanitarian partners working to support people in northern Gaza with food assistance continue to distribute any supplies that are available and accessible, as those stocks dwindle. In Gaza city, more than 110,000 meals are being distributed each day by at least 10 kitchens, including a new kitchen set up last week in the Ash Shati’ refugee camp to support an influx of people displaced from North Gaza governorate.

In North Gaza governorate, between Friday and Sunday, partners distributed more than 1,500 food parcels and 1,500 bags of wheat flour to displaced people who were trapped or sheltering in and near schools in Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahya.

However, our partners report that there is barely any food left to distribute, and most bakeries will be forced to shut down again in just days without additional fuel. Even cooked meals are likely to be exhausted much faster than anticipated due to increasing displacement from North Gaza to Gaza governorate.

OCHA reports that during the first two weeks of October, just one out of 54 coordinated movements to the north via the Al Rashid checkpoint was facilitated by Israeli authorities. 85 per cent were denied, with the rest impeded or canceled due to security or logistical issues.

Throughout Gaza, OCHA says that less than a third of a total 285 humanitarian movements coordinated with Israeli authorities during the first two weeks of this month were facilitated. Almost half were denied access, 17 per cent were impeded, and the rest were canceled.

/…