12 October 2023; MEMO: The deputy director of UNRWA affairs in the Gaza Strip has confirmed that 11 members of the agency’s staff and personnel have been killed in the Israeli bombardment of the besieged territory.
“I am very saddened to confirm that 11 UNRWA colleagues have been killed since 7 October in the Gaza Strip,” said Jennifer Austin. “They included five teachers at UNRWA schools, one gynaecologist, one engineer, one psychological counsellor and three support staff.”
Some were killed in their homes with their families, she added. “UNRWA mourns this loss and is grieving with our colleagues and the families.
“UN staff and civilians must be protected at all times during conflict We call for the fighting to come to an end to spare more civilian lives lost.”
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East provides essential services for Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, including the Gaza Strip. The agency issued an update yesterday afternoon (local time) on the situation in Gaza following the start of the bombardment of the territory by Israel.
Nearly 218,600 internally displaced people (IDPs) are sheltering in 92 UNRWA schools in all areas in the Gaza Strip. The number of IDPs in UNRWA emergency shelters continues to increase on a daily basis as air strikes and shelling by Israeli forces continue. Many other people are displaced in government schools and other buildings. In total, at least 340,000 Palestinians have been displaced across the Gaza Strip as at 4pm local time on Tuesday.
The agency pointed out that over 5,300 staff are responding to the emergency under extremely challenging circumstances. Many roads have been destroyed or have become inaccessible due to debris, and ongoing air strikes are limiting movements.
Shelters are overcrowded and have limited availability of food, non-food items and potable water. A water crisis is looming in UNRWA emergency shelters and across the Gaza Strip due to damaged infrastructure, lack of electricity needed to operate pumps and desalination plants, and limited supply of water in the local market. Water supplies cannot be replenished due to the total blockade on the Gaza Strip by the Israeli authorities. Fuel cannot be brought in and Israeli water suppliers can no longer deliver water in Gaza. An Emergency Water Task Force was established to explore solutions for potable water supplies in shelters and beyond in coordination with UNICEF and OCHA.
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There is no humanitarian access for food or other essential supplies. Nevertheless, in coordination with the World Food Programme (WFP), bread was distributed to the displaced people in the shelters. UNRWA is also distributing other food to displaced families.
One UNRWA health centre in Gaza was affected by air strikes on Tuesday, bringing the total number of installations affected by the conflict to 21 since 7 October.
Only eight (out of 22) UNRWA health centres across the Gaza Strip were able to provide primary health-care services on Tuesday morning. The agency’s pharmacy stocks are not affected by shortages for now. However, one UNRWA health centre in Jabaliya, in the north of the Gaza Strip, is likely to run out of medicine in the next 14 days.
Diesel reserves to run the health centres are decreasing critically, and will run out within the next two weeks unless supplies are available as a matter of urgency. Moreover, if stocks of diesel are not replenished by Wednesday, said UNRWA, there is a high risk that at least two of the agency’s health centres will have to close.
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Some solid waste collection and transfers to landfills have resumed for a safe environment in the refugee camps and to reduce health-related risks. Transfer of solid waste from emergency shelters to landfills continues.
Water wells in Jabaliya, Khan Younis and Rafah are functional with about 10,000 cubic metres pumped from nine water wells. The provision of potable water through tankers continues to several designated emergency shelters in the Khan Younis area.
Nearly half a million people (112,000 families) have not been able to receive their quarterly food rations since UNRWA food distribution centres closed on 7 October.
With an increased number of schools sheltering IDPs, mobile toilets and showers are being deployed where these are not available in the buildings. UNRWA has distributed mattresses, mats, blankets and jerrycans in the designated emergency shelters. People with specific needs are prioritised as the quantity available is insufficient to cover all needs.
An UNRWA health centre in Gaza City as well as three trucks parked outside the centre were affected by collateral damage due to an Israeli air strike targeting a building nearby.
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, 1,100 Palestinians have been killed, including 171 women and 326 children. Of the 5,339 Palestinians injured, 744 are women and 1,217 are children. According to Israeli sources, 1,200 people have been killed in Israel since 7 October.
