UNICEF in the State of Palestine – Humanitarian Situation Report No.17 (25 Jan to 7 Feb 2024)

Highlights

The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing by the day, particularly for an estimated 300,000 people in northern Gaza who have been predominantly cut off from assistance and where food security assessments show the greatest needs, according to WFP. The UN warns that humanitarian aid reaching Gaza city is “not enough to prevent a famine.”

• At least 17,000 children in the Gaza Strip are unaccompanied or separated from their families based on estimations.
• The main barriers for humanitarian aid are: 1) Continuing heavy military operations and limited security to reach children and families in need, 2) Logistical constraints, insufficient number of trucks and many logistical and bureaucratic hurdles, 3) Restrictions on commercial goods. Without the ability to produce or import food, the entire population of Gaza depends on aid to survive.
• Military operations in the West Bank continued including a one-day operation in Nur Shams camp where three people were killed.
• During the reporting period, UNICEF with partners distributed nutrition supplements into the Gaza Strip, benefitting 3,900 pregnant and lactating women, as well as 41,900 children aged 6-59 months.
• UNICEF delivered medical supplies and consumables to partners in the Gaza Strip, benefitting 10,000 people at six different locations.
• UNICEF ensured the distribution of over 30,000 clothing sets in the Gaza Strip tailored for children aged between newborn and 17 years old.
• Since 7 October, UNICEF has provided psychosocial support services for over 70,00 people including more than 57,000 children.
• In the West Bank, UNICEF continued to support the national education system to educate children who are not able to reach their schools due to security issues, and stationery kits for 19,840 children are being distributed.