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Humanitarian Action for Children 2024 - State of Palestine, Revision 2 (February 2024)

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HIGHLIGHTS

  • More than 1.4 million children in the State of Palestine have humanitarian needs, with over one million children in the Gaza Strip and 421,000 children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Among them, out of the 1.7 million people estimated to be internally displaced in the Gaza Strip, 850,000 are children. Between 7 October 2023 and 9 February 2024, at least 27,947 Palestinians were reported killed in the Gaza Strip, with up to 70 per cent reported to be women and children.

  • UNICEF will continue to deliver gender-responsive WASH, Health, Nutrition, Child Protection, Education and humanitarian cash interventions to affected populations in the Gaza Strip, while responding to the humanitarian needs in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and building up preparedness measures for the risk of further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

  • In 2024 UNICEF requires US$ 263.3 million in the State of Palestine for humanitarian action, including US$ 74.4 million for cash transfers; US$ 62.2 million for water, sanitation and hygiene; and US$ 62.9 million for health and nutrition interventions.

KEY PLANNED TARGETS

523,796 children and women supported with micronutrient supplementation

780,000 people supported through UNICEF delivered medical supplies

860,800 children, adolescents and caregivers affected by conflict related violence receive emergency and child protection service including MHPSS

2.1 million people accessing a sufficient quantity and quality of water

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION AND NEEDS

It is estimated that over three million people require humanitarian assistance in the State of Palestine (2.2 million Gaza Strip; 900,000 West Bank, including East Jerusalem). As a result of 7 October event in Israel and the escalation of the conflict, children in the Gaza Strip are facing the 'triple threat’ of conflict, disease, and malnutrition. As of 9 February, at least 27,947 Palestinians were reported killed since hostilities began, with up to 70 per cent reported to be women and children. More than 67,459 Palestinians were reported injured, including at least 11,482 children9 . Israeli sources report at least 35 Israeli and foreign national children killed, with at least 36 children abducted from Israel into the Gaza Strip, of whom 34 were released.

As of 23 January 2024, there were estimated to be over 1.7 million internally displaced people, 50 per cent being children in the Gaza Strip. Displaced children are enduring challenging living conditions in overcrowded shelters and informal sites with limited availability of safe water, putting them at risk of epidemics and preventable diseases. Girls in particular face additional risks including the lack of privacy and safety concerns impacting their dignity and mobility as well as mental and physical health. Thousands of children are estimated to be unaccompanied and separated from their families. As a result of the conflict, the number of children with disabilities has increased and specialized care and services are no longer available. As of 7 February, there were no fully functional hospitals in the Gaza Strip, with 36 per cent of hospitals only partially functional.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) concluded in December 2023 indicates that the entire population in the Gaza Strip was classified in IPC Phase 3 or above (crisis or worse). Up to 1.2 million people are experiencing emergency levels of acute food insecurity. As the risk of famine conditions continues to increase, all children under five – an estimated 335,000 children – are at high risk of severe malnutrition and preventable death.
In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, at least 100 Palestinian children were reported killed in conflict-related violence between 7 October 2023 and 9 February 2024.

Militarized law enforcement operations inside Palestinian communities and camps involving high use of live ammunition, explosive weapons, and aerial strikes, as well as settler violence, demolitions, and movement restrictions, have put Palestinian children at higher risk of violence, grave violations, and displacement, and impact their access to services.