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Gaza Strip
Health updates
• The ground operation in North Gaza has continued since 6 October 2024. According to a report of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on 19 November 2024, access to humanitarian assistance remains restricted for an estimated 65,000 to 75,000 people remaining in the governorate.
• One medical point falls within the evacuation zone designated on 2 December 2024, affecting areas in northern Khan Younis governorate and parts of Deir al Balah. OCHA reported that approximately 2,000 people have relocated westwards to Al Mawasi, some of whom are now in areas vulnerable to flooding due to heavy rainfall during the winter season.
• During the reporting week, WHO coordinated two medical evacuation missions to Jordan for critically ill patients requiring specialized treatment abroad. On 3 December, 11 patients along with 23 companions were evacuated to Jordan, with onward travel planned to the United States for further care. The second medical evacuation, on 4 December, involved eight patients and 25 companions, who were transported to Jordan before continuing to their destinations: Romania (one patient), Belgium (five patients), Spain (two patients).
• Medical evacuation of patients outside of Gaza remains limited since 7 May. As of 4 December, a total of 5,325 patients have been evacuated since October 2023, 80% of which are children, with only 378 patients, including 217 children, evacuated since Rafah Closure in May 2024.
• Persistent fuel shortages continue to jeopardize humanitarian interventions, particularly healthcare services, disrupting the operations of hospitals, primary healthcare centers (PHCCs), and ambulance services. On 3 December, the Palestinian Civil Defense (PCD) reported that 13 of 22 fire, rescue, and ambulance vehicles in the southern governorates of Deir Al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah were rendered inoperative due to lack of fuel. Additionally, PCD announced that most of their vehicles in Gaza City have been non-operational for 27 days, while services in North Gaza have been completely suspended for 42 days due to the ongoing fuel crisis.
• Between 28 November and 4 December, WHO recorded seven attacks on healthcare facilities in the Gaza Strip, including two in Deir Al Balah, one in Gaza City, and four in North Gaza:
- on 28 November, Al-Awda Field Hospital in Nuseirat was attacked, resulting in injuries to four individuals.
- Kamal Adwan reported three incidents. Three healthcare workers injured, the ICU Head Nurse killed, and the hospital’s generators damaged.
• Two attacks on healthcare were reported in the West Bank:
- On 3 December, Tubas Government Hospital was raided, Hospital Director was assaulted, and at least three staff members were detained. The hospital reported the use of live ammunition inside its premises.
- On 4 December, Nablus Arab Specialty Hospital was raided, a patient was detained.
• According to Israeli authorities, over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed inside Israel, and approximately 5,400 injuries were reported. As of 3 December, there have been 380 reported fatalities and 2,463 reported injuries of Israeli soldiers since the start of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip.