Attachments
General updates
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Mass displacement rapidly increased in the past 24 hours across the Gaza Strip, reaching over 187,518 (OCHA figures), and is expected to increase further. About 3,000 Palestinians in Gaza are still displaced following previous escalations.
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Nearly 137,500 internally displaced people (IDPs) are sheltering in 83 UNRWA schools in all areas of the Gaza Strip. As heavy airstrikes continue, more and more IDPs seek shelter in UNRWA’s schools. Every effort is being made to provide basic services to the IDPs. However, the conditions are difficult, with some shelters overcrowded, and with limited availability of potable water. Not all 83 schools are DES (designated emergency shelters) hence not prepared to receive IDPs.
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In coordination with the World Food Programme (WFP), bread was distributed to the displaced people in the shelters.
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UNRWA Gaza Field Office, where national and international staff are present, suffered collateral damage due to airstrikes in the Rimal area in the centre of Gaza City.
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In total, 18 UNRWA installations have been affected since 7 October.
**Protection of Civilians **
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According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health: 560 people have been killed, including at least 90 children, and 2,900 injured. Two UNRWA staff members have been killed and five UNRWA students.
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According to Israeli sources, at least 900 people have been killed in Israel.
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Four displaced people sheltering at an UNRWA school in Gaza city were injured. In addition, an unconfirmed number of displaced sheltering at the UNRWA Rehabilitation Centre for the Visually Impaired were injured, due to airstrikes on nearby buildings.
**Education **
- All UNRWA schools across the Gaza Strip, including the Rehabilitation Centre for Visually Impaired and the two vocational centres in Gaza and Khan Younis, remain closed.
**Health Services provision **
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15 (out of 22) UNRWA Health Centres across the Gaza Strip are providing primary healthcare services from 9:00 to 12:00 to patients with urgent referred appointments received through the free-toll hotline.
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125 health staff (13.5 % of total health staff) are rotating at the health centers. Emergency health-care services through the toll-free hotline continue across all areas.
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As of 14:00 hrs, 1,672 callers used the toll-free hotline and were provided with services.
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The community is appealing to UNRWA to open the closed health centres due to the high demand for services.
**Sanitation Services **
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All solid waste collection and transfer to landfills activities remain on hold. Alternative arrangements are being made. The operation of water wells in Jabalia, Khan Younis and Rafah has resumed.
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Potable water was delivered by water tankers to three shelters in Khan Younis.
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Maintenance teams carried out work in six schools, including plumbing and fixing of electrical systems.
**Relief and Social Services **
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Nearly half a million people (112k families) have not been able to get their food rations this week since UNRWA food distribution centers are closed.
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Relief and Social Services Helplines are operational and Psychosocial Support and Psychological First Aid are being provided remotely.
**General UNRWA operations **
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Mobile toilets and showers are being deployed to the shelters where these are not available.
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Mattresses, mats, blankets, jerrycans and cleaning supplies were transported from the main UNRWA warehouse to the shelters. However, the quantity currently available is insufficient to cover the needs, given the increasing number of IDPs. Staff movements remains restricted except for those involved in the provision of services listed above.
**UNRWA Installations **
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Shrapnel was found in a health centre in the northern area.
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Shrapnel was found in two schools in Rafah and the middle areas .
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Three schools and the Rehabilitation Centre for the Visually Impaired in Gaza City sustained collateral damage .
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Juliette Touma
UNRWA Director of Communications
Mobile: +962-79-867-4628 (on whatsapp)
+972 54240-2753
+970-56-294-0311
On Twitter: @JulietteTouma
UNRWA on Twitter: @UNRWA
Email: j.touma@unrwa.org
Tamara Alrifai
UNRWA Spokesperson/
Director of External Relations & Communications
Mobile: +962 (0)79 090 0140
On Twitter: @UNRWA
UNRWA on Twitter: @UNRWA
Instagram: instagram.com/unrwa
Email: t.alrifai@unrwa.org