Attachments
SITUATION OVERVIEW
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. With at least 43,000 people killed and over 101,000 injured, nearly 1.9 million people have been displaced, many repeatedly, including over 43,000 pregnant women. Each evacuation order further shatters lives, forcing families to move from one unsafe place to another. Nearly 70% of the infrastructure in Gaza is destroyed, leaving almost the entire population without food, clean water, healthcare, and/or basic shelter. The war is marked by a complete disregard for the protection of civilians and international humanitarian law (IHL).
The siege on North Gaza throughout October has cut people off from life-saving aid and left them struggling to survive. Hundreds of people have been killed, and over 70,000 people have been uprooted, with thousands trapped in areas of conflict without food, water or access to healthcare. Civilians are enduring unimaginable conditions, separated from their families and sheltering in rubble, while the wounded struggle without access to medical care.
The recent incursions into North Gaza have been characterized by attacks on hospitals in clear violation of IHL. At Kamal Adwan Hospital, Israeli forces destroyed medical equipment, and detained health workers. Patients died due to a lack of life-saving medical supplies, food and water, and four ambulances were damaged. Al Awda hospital remains inaccessible.
In north Gaza, only two out of 20 health service points and two hospitals- Kamal Adwan and Al Awda both of which provide emergency obstetric care– are still partially functioning as they struggle to operate without supplies, fuel, food or water. This will further restrict access to maternal health care for an estimated 14,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in north Gaza.
Hunger is pervasive in Gaza, pushing the region to the brink of famine. An estimated 1.84 million people, including 42,000 pregnant women, face crisis levels of hunger (IPC 3). The markets have almost completely dried up due to a sharp decline in the entry of private commercial trucks into Gaza, which has reached its lowest level in October compared to any month since the war began. Conditions are so dire that over 3,000 pregnant women are already experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity (IPC5), a number that could surge to 8,000 as winter sets in. Over 15,000 pregnant women are on the verge of catastrophic levels of hunger. Without sustained aid, acute malnutrition (IPC3) is expected to affect 16,500 pregnant and breastfeeding women across Gaza in the coming months.
Food insecurity is particularly impacting the well-being of vulnerable groups. A recent analysis on gender-based violence (GBV) trends by the GBV Area of Responsibility (AoR) indicates that over a quarter of cases of GBV reported in September were related to resource shortages in households, often affecting girls, women, and older women (60+). The situation is worsened by high prices in markets and a lack of basic hygiene items for women and girls, including sanitary pads.
Access to water has also become extremely challenging. Transporting water by trucks, and the resulting crowds at distribution points, have made water collection unsafe for women and girls, and nearly impossible for those with disabilities, especially if they do not have a caregiver. Many are left with no choice but to pay for water, deepening poverty and increasing vulnerability to abuse and exploitation.
The healthcare system in Gaza has nearly collapsed, with half of all hospitals out of action. Among the remaining 17 hospitals, only minimal services are available including maternity care, due to a lack of essential resources, including supplies. Attacks have severely impacted over 1,100 healthcare sites, leading to the resurgence of diseases like polio.
Sexual and reproductive health care, including postnatal and family planning services, have become severely limited for 155,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, who face serious health risks due to a lack of prenatal and postnatal care. Complicated and high risk pregnancies linked with negative outcomes have increased, while access to safe childbirth services has dramatically decreased, especially in the North. Transportation challenges and a shortage of medical personnel have compounded the crisis.
UNFPA partners report that there has been a rise in premature births and maternal deaths and many women are forced to give birth without access to medical support.
Women and girls are facing heightened risks due to overcrowded shelters and inadequate sanitation facilities. There is a rise in infections, with 25% of women experiencing skin conditions and other health issues. Menstrual hygiene has become nearly impossible to manage, as over 690,000 menstruating women lack access to basic sanitary supplies. The cost of essential items like soap has skyrocketed by 1,100%, making it impossible to keep clean and increasing women’s vulnerability to violence and exploitation.
Humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza is facing severe obstacles, with repeated obstructions preventing the flow of life-saving supplies to millions in need. Essential resources such as food, shelter materials, and hygiene kits are stuck at the border, while Gaza has become the world’s most dangerous region for aid workers.
The recent vote by the Israeli Parliament to ban UNRWA further threatens aid delivery for Palestinian refugees, jeopardizing the foundation of humanitarian operations in Gaza. UNRWA provides critical support in health, education, and essential services, and attempts to ban it from operating will undoubtedly exacerbate suffering and worsen conditions for those already in dire need.
UNFPA supplies have been stranded for months in trucks at the border or stockpiled in warehouses in Egypt and Amman, while urgently needed by women and girls in Gaza. Supplies include 900 inter-agency reproductive health kits,containing essential medicines and supplies for safe births and emergency obstetric care, 51 high-performance tents, to be used as safe spaces and medical points, generators, ultrasounds, patient monitors, and an additional 60,000 hygiene and dignity kits, 6,400 postpartum kits, and over 1.2 million menstrual pads.
In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, violence and existing and stepped up movement restrictions have intensified. Since October 2023, 732 Palestinians have been killed, including 715 by Israeli forces and 12 by Israeli settlers. Additionally, 1,536 settler attacks have resulted in injuries and property damage. This escalation has forced 285 Palestinian households—totaling 1,669 individuals, including 807 children—out of their homes, primarily affecting Bedouin and herding communities. Over 1,800 Palestinian structures have been demolished by Israeli authorities, displacing more than 4,600 people, nearly half of whom are children.
In October 2024, OCHA reported approximately 180 settler-related incidents across nearly 90 Palestinian communities, with 60% linked to the olive harvest season, disrupting lives and livelihoods. Palestinian’s access to land is further constrained by 43 new settlement outposts established since October 2023.
Severe movement restrictions continue to hinder access to essential services, delay ambulances, and obstruct humanitarian aid.
Travel between cities and villages has become increasingly perilous, compounded by shortages of water, fuel, and other necessities, making it difficult for residents to reach schools, workplaces, healthcare facilities, and families.