Attachments
Highlights
The Gaza Strip
- Israeli forces continued to maintain a high level of activity, with reports indicating that tanks advanced in the Jabalia area (within the “orange line” - a buffer area near the “Yellow Line” of Israeli control where the authorities require coordinated movements for humanitarian operations). One UNRWA school in the area was struck by bullets, with no reported casualties. Airstrikes, shelling, and gunfire reportedly continued across all areas, resulting in civilian casualties and damage to critical facilities.
- UNRWA medical surveillance teams continue to report concerning increases in ectoparasitic skin diseases such as scabies, in addition to chickenpox, deepening public health concerns. Documented cases tripled between January and March, with hotspots identified in the Mawasi–Khan Younis area. Widespread rodent and parasite infestations, including scabies and fleas, continue to be reported across displacement sites, driven by severe overcrowding, disrupted water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, and poor environmental conditions.
- Lack of chemical supplies for pest and rodent control remains a critical constraint to addressing the problem, as does a lack of lubricant oil that may reduce generator-supported waste and sewage operations in the near term and thereby increase public health risks.
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that severe water shortages in Gaza have been driven by extensive damage to water and sanitation infrastructure and sustained restrictions on fuel, electricity, and water-related supplies, which are essential for systems to operate. Nearly 90 per cent of water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed or damaged, significantly limiting access to safe water for the population and increasing risks of disease amid overcrowded and deteriorating living conditions. According to WASH Cluster data, around 80 per cent of Gaza’s population currently relies on water trucking for their drinking water. In this context, UNRWA continues to deliver life-saving WASH services at scale, reaching over half of the population across the Gaza Strip with domestic and drinking water.