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UNRWA Situation Report #33 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (all information is valid as of 18 November 2023 at 22:30 local time)

UNRWA

19 Nov 2023

Key Points

The Gaza Strip

• On 18 November, one UNRWA colleague was killed in the North area due to strikes. In total, 104 colleagues have been killed since the beginning of the war. This is the highest number of United Nations aid workers killed in a conflict in the history of the United Nations.

• Several incidents impacting UNRWA installations and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) have been recorded by UNRWA in the last 24 hours resulting in the killing and injuring of many IDPs sheltering in the installations. UNRWA is still trying to verify the correct number of casualties.

• Almost 1.7 million people have been displaced across the Gaza Strip since 7 October.

• As of 18 November, nearly 884,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are now sheltering in 154 UNRWA installations across all five governorates of the Gaza Strip, including in the north.

• Nearly 724,000 IDPs are sheltering in 97 facilities in the Middle, Khan Younis and Rafah areas. Nearly 160,000 IDPs were sheltering in 57 UNRWA schools in the northern and Gaza areas as of 12 October 2023, before the evacuation order was issued by Israeli Authorities. UNRWA is not able to access these shelters to assist or protect IDPs and does not have information on their needs and conditions.

• The entry of fuel critical for the overall humanitarian operations across the Gaza Strip has been largely banned since 7 October when the war began.

• On Wednesday, 15 November, the Israeli Authorities allowed the entry of just less than 23,000 litres (half a truck) of fuel for UNRWA to transport trucks of aid arriving via Rafah. This fuel could not to be used for any other humanitarian purposes.

• On 18 November, the Israeli Authorities authorized the entry of 120,000 litres of fuel that will be used over two days and will only cover half of the daily critical needs. UNRWA has been informed that 120,000 litres of fuel will be delivered every two days.

• Fuel is also critical for telecommunications networks. Gaza endured a fourth communications blackout on Friday 17 November. As a result, UNRWA was not able to transport trucks of humanitarian assistance arriving via Egypt.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

• On 16 November, an ISF operation was reported in Fara'a refugee camp, north-east of Nablus. There was an exchange of fire between Palestinian and ISF and two Palestinians were reportedly injured, including one with live ammunition. One Palestinian was detained.

• An UNRWA sanitation labourer was held by ISF while working in the camp and wearing a UN vest, and then released.

• The UNRWA health centre and schools in the camp opened later.

• In the evening, an ISF operation was reported in Jenin city and refugee camp. An exchange of fire took place between Palestinians and ISF in the city and in the vicinity of the camp. ISF snipers were reportedly stationed on the top of Palestinian houses, in the city and in the vicinity of the camp, and ISF drones reportedly fired missiles at Palestinian houses.

• Over 1,600 students in UNRWA four schools in Jenin refugee camp are still unable to safely access school premises due to the bad condition of the roads. Schools continue to operate through blended learning.

• On 17 November, a Palestinian died from injuries sustained in clashes with ISF during the ISF operation in Jenin refugee camp on 9 November.

• On 18 November, an ISF drone fired missiles towards the Fatah office in Balata refugee camp, Nablus. Five Palestinians were reported killed and two others were injured. Damages were also reported to infrastructure and other buildings in the camp, including the house behind the targeted building, which housed eight people in two apartments. It has been reported as uninhabitable.

• On the same morning, ISF launched an operation in the Balata refugee camp, and entered the camp with an armoured bulldozer. ISF further damaged the area where the drone strike occurred earlier in the night, including a house in the market area and a number of neighbouring homes, as well as some shops.

• On the same day, ISF launched a search and arrest operation in Ein Sultan refugee camp, Jericho. Clashes took place between ISF and Palestinians and several cases of tear gas inhalation were reported.