Attachments
Situation Update
Gaza Strip
• The three phases of the first round of the poliovirus vaccination campaign, targeting children under ten years of age, were concluded on 12 September, using a 3+1 model strategy (i.e. three days of active campaign, plus one catch-up day). A total of 559,161 children were vaccinated across the Gaza, including 195,830 in the first phase in Deir Al-Balah, 250,737 in the second phase in Khan Younis and Rafah, and 112,509 children in the third phase in Gaza and North Gaza.
• The second round of vaccination is planned to take place in four weeks, to ensure an effective response and successfully stop cVDPV2 transmission.
• A technical analysis conducted by WHO to estimate trauma rehabilitation needs in the Gaza Strip found that around 25% of injuries (or 22,500 people) are likely to have acute and ongoing rehabilitation needs. While extremity injuries are the dominant injury with about 15,000 cases, there are also likely to be 3,000-4,000 amputations, and over 2,000 major head and spinal cord injuries, and over 2,000 major burns. The report stated that, while the analysis focuses solely on new injuries sustained since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, tens of thousands of Gazans were already living with pre-existing chronic conditions and impairments before this, putting them at significant risk due to the lack of appropriate services.
• WHO noted that currently available rehabilitation services are heavily disrupted and are insufficient to meet the enormous surge in needs. Even if previous services are re-established, a massive scale-up of rehabilitation efforts is required to prevent complications and ensure the best possible recovery of survivors.
• Medical evacuation of patients outside of Gaza remains limited since 7 May. As of 18 September, out of 14,510 cases requested for medical evacuation, 5,130 (35%) have been evacuated, since October 2023, with only 219 patients evacuated since Rafah Closure in May 2024. Of utmost urgency is the restoration of medical evacuations from Gaza to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, where hospitals are ready to receive patients. Patients must also be facilitated to be transferred to Egypt and Jordan, and from there to other countries when needed. WHO appeals for the establishment of multiple medical evacuation corridors to ensure sustained, organized, safe and timely passage of patients via all possible routes, including Rafah and Kerem Shalom.
• Persistent fuel shortages continue to threaten humanitarian interventions, including health care provision, impacting the functionality of hospitals, PHCCs and ambulance services.
• According to the Health Cluster, three health facilities, including the Indonesian Hospital and two primary healthcare centers, are within the evacuation zone announced by Israeli military, on 14 September, affecting areas in North Gaza. Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan Hospitals are also within close proximity to the affected area, within 200m and 485m, respectively. None of the affected facilities evacuated, and all continued to provide their services to the vulnerable population of the North.
• OCHA reported that, as of 16 September, more than 55 evacuation orders remain in effect, covering about 86% of the Gaza Strip.
• According to Israeli authorities, over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed inside Israel, and approximately 5,400 reported injuries. As of 18 September, there have been 346 reported fatalities and 2,282 reported injuries of Israeli soldiers since the start of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip. One hundred and one hostages remain in Gaza.