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Day 19 of the hostilities

Key Points  

The Gaza Strip 

Some 629,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) are sheltering in 150 UNRWA installations across the Gaza Strip. Another UNRWA staff member has been killed, bringing the total to 39 staff killed since 7 October. In the last 24 hours, three schools sustained collateral damage due to nearby strikes. One IDP was killed in one of the impacted schools, while 15 suffered minor injuries in another. Fuel continues to be urgently needed to maintain vital humanitarian operations. Current stocks are almost completely exhausted, forcing life-saving services to come to a halt. This includes the supply of piped water as well as fuel for the health sector, bakeries, and generators.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

On 25 October, three Palestine Refugees were killed, and 21 additional people injured by an alleged Israeli Security Forces (ISF) airstrike in Jenin refugee camp. The strike occurred in the proximity of an UNRWA school. No damage was reported to the installation.

Overall Situation 

The Gaza Strip 

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, more than 6,546 people have been killed since 7 October, including 2,704 children, 1,584 women and 364 elderly persons. A further 17,439 people have been injured. This is in addition to 1,600 reported missing, presumably under the rubble of destroyed buildings, including 900 children. Overall, nearly 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed in Israel, according to the Israeli authorities, the vast majority on 7 October (OCHA).

Nearly 469,000 persons are sheltering in 93 UNRWA premises in Middle, Khan Younis and Rafah areas, an increase of almost 16,000 IDPs over the past 24 hours. While the number of IDPs continues to increase, the availability of vital assistance remains severely constrained and inadequate to meet the mounting needs.  The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

Seventeen persons were detained during an ISF search and arrest operation in Kalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. A 16-year-old boy was also reportedly killed during the same operation. The total number of Palestinians from Gaza previously working/located in Israel, and currently relocated to the West Bank has now risen to over 5,300 individuals who are facing food security, shelter, and cash assistance needs.

Humanitarian Access, Protection of Civilians 

The Gaza Strip 

Since 7 October, 39 UNRWA staff and personnel have been killed. In the Middle area, two schools were impacted by collateral damage due to nearby strikes. One fatality was reported in one of the schools that is currently hosting 12,500 IDPs. In Rafah, 15 IDPs suffered minor injuries as a consequence of collateral damage impacting the school where they were sheltering. The injured were treated by UNRWA medical teams onsite. 42 UNRWA installations have been impacted since 7 October. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

Movements of Palestinians in the West Bank, including Palestine Refugees and UNRWA staff, continue to be significantly limited, due to movement restrictions imposed by the Israeli Authorities. Access routes to major cities have been obstructed for vehicles. UNRWA continues to provide services, supported by staff living in close proximity to its installations.

UNRWA Response  

The Gaza Strip 

UNRWA Shelters 

The average number of IDPs per shelter has almost reached three times their intended capacity. UNRWA continues to distribute assistance in shelters; however, the current overcrowding conditions remain of concern and represent a health and protection risk for IDPs.

Health 

Eight UNRWA health centres continued to operate in the South (out of 22) recording over 3,800 patient visits on 25 October, including refugees and non-refugees. Health-care services were maintained in the UNRWA shelters, with the support of 93 mobile medical units and medical teams, serving 10,300 cases at shelters. According to initial health assessments from the mobile medical teams there are over 37,900 persons with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), over 4,750 pregnant women and around 390 post-natal cases requiring medical attention among the IDPs. In addition, medical teams are increasingly identifying cases of acute respiratory and diarrhea among children under five years old. Medicines and fuel stocks are critically decreasing putting at risk the continuity of essential healthcare services.

Psychosocial support

UNRWA has counsellors and social workers in the shelters, who provide psychological first aid and other specialized protection services. Since the beginning of the crisis, UNRWA social workers provided 10,200 people with psychosocial support and social work services. These include cases that are referred for medication and other specialized mental health and psychosocial support interventions.  

The West Bank including East Jerusalem 

Education 

Most of UNRWA’s 96 schools in the West Bank continue to operate, with six schools in East Jerusalem and Hebron Boys’ School implementing remote learning. On 25 October, UNRWA four schools in Kalandia refugee camp were closed due to the search and arrest operation conducted by ISF and the volatile security situation. The closure affected 1,200 students.

Psychosocial support  

UNRWA provided psychosocial support services to 155 Gazan workers in Hebron, Ramallah and Tulkarem as well as to 240 students at Nur Shams Boys’ schools.