UNRWA Situation Report #79 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem

• Increased airstrikes in Rafah have heightened fears that they will further hamper overstretched humanitarian operations. Nearly 1.5 million people are in Rafah, more than six times the population in comparison with before 7 October.
• Intense fighting in and around Khan Younis (southwest of Gaza) over the last four weeks is causing loss of life and damage to civilian infrastructure, including UNRWA’s largest shelter in the southern area, the Khan Younis Training Centre (KYTC). This is forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee further south towards Rafah, which is severely overcrowded. At the same time, population movements out of Rafah and towards Deir Al Balah and Nuseirat refugee camps in the Middle Area have been reported, following intensified airstrikes on Rafah.
• Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis continues to be besieged by Israeli tanks. There reportedly are 10,000 displaced people within the hospital’s premises, including 300 medical personnel. On 16 February, Ministry of Health reported that five ICU patients had died due to a lack of oxygen supplies and a number of people who were relocated to a building within Nasser Hospital premises had no  food, water or baby formula.
• The number of trucks entering Gaza remains well below the target of 500 per day, with significant difficulties in bringing supplies in through both Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Rafah. The Food Security Cluster reported that a consistent food supply to serve the entire population continues to be hindered by frequent border closures.
• According to OCHA, since the start of 2024 until 12 February, 51% of missions planned by UNRWA and humanitarian partners to deliver aid and undertake assessments to areas north of Wadi Gaza were denied access by the Israeli authorities. According to the Food Security Cluster, food insecurity north of Wadi Gaza has reached an extremely critical state, given significant restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
• In the period between 21 October and 14 February, people received 25,056 metric tons (MT) of flour, including 15,364 from UNRWA.
• In the same period, UNRWA delivered to the Gaza Strip:
  • Medicines and medical supplies for a total value of more than US$ 6.8 million.
  • Over 22 million litres of water.
  • 2.7 million units of biscuits and high energy biscuits.
  • Nearly 6.8 million cans of protein-based food, including beans and canned meat.
  • Over 6.5 million units of dairy items (cheese).
  • Other food items including dates and juice.
  • Non-food items (NFI) including nearly 136,000 mattresses; 104,000 family hygiene kits; over 3.1 million diapers; approximately 185,000 blankets; and over 3.7 million cleaning supply items.
• As of 17 February, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is now 158.
• As of 17 February, up to 1.7 million* people (over 75 per cent of the population) ** have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times.*** Families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. Following intense Israeli bombardments and fighting in Khan Younis and the Middle Area in recent days, a significant number of displaced people have moved further south.

*This includes one million individuals residing in or near emergency shelters or informal shelters. As of 12 October, approximately 160,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded in North Gaza and Gaza governorates. The ability of UNRWA to provide humanitarian support and updated data in these areas has been severely restricted. The ongoing hostilities, evacuation orders issued by Israeli Forces, and the constant need for safer locations have resulted in people being displaced multiple times.

**UNRWA reported in Situation Report 64 that up to 1.9 million IDPs were either residing in 154 UNRWA shelters or near these shelters. Due to the continued escalation of fighting and evacuation orders, some households have moved away from the shelters where they were initially registered.

*** There are instances where the same IDPs are registered in multiple shelters due to the fluid movement of populations; hereafter, estimates are used for these shelters. UNRWA plans to conduct a more accurate count of IDPs in shelters, including informal shelters, as soon as the security situation allows.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

The next West Bank update will be published 20 February 2024