The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, said today in a tweet that the noose around the civilian population in Gaza is tightening. How are 1.1 million people supposed to move across a densely populated warzone in less than 24 hours, he asked, saying he shudders to think what the humanitarian consequences of the evacuation order would be.
Since Wednesday, Gaza has been experiencing a full electricity blackout, which has brought essential health and water and sanitation services to the brink of collapse.
Hospitals only have a few hours of electricity each day as they are forced to ration depleting fuel reserves, according to the World Health Organization. They also facing severe shortages of medicines and blood.
The lack of electricity is impacting food security as well, disrupting refrigeration and irrigation devices.
No aid is currently getting into the Gaza Strip as border crossings are closed.
We have issued a new flash appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, calling for $294 million to address the most urgent needs of 1.26 million people in Gaza and the West Bank for three months. This appeal brings together 13 UN agencies, 29 international non-governmental organizations, 35 national NGOs and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. The appeal was issued before the latest developments, but it underscores the severity of needs in the area even prior to the current situation.
The UN completed a mission to the country’s north-west yesterday to assess the ongoing humanitarian response, in the wake of increased hostilities in Idleb over the past week – the most significant since 2019.
Our humanitarian partners and local health authorities say the fighting has killed more than 50 people – including 15 children – with more than 300 others injured. Three aid workers are among the dead.
The inter-agency team – led by the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, David Carden – visited a reception center and the Sham Surgical Hospital, which has treated some three dozen patients injured in the latest fighting. The team also spoke with health workers and displaced families.
Nearly 70,000 people have reportedly been displaced due to the hostilities, with some two dozen health facilities and 17 education facilities also affected.
We and our partners are stepping up response efforts – reaching some 17,000 people with food assistance and more than 800 families with shelter and other essential supplies.
Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria – OCHA
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