• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

UNRWA Situation Report #53 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (All information is valid as of 16 December 2023 at 22:30)

UNRWA

17 Dec 2023

All information from December 14-16 December is valid as of 16 December 2023 at 22:30
Days 68-71 of Hostilities

Key Points

The Gaza Strip

• As of 16 December, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is 135.

• Since 7 October, up to 1.9 million people (or over 85 per cent of the population) have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times. Families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety.

• As of 13 December, nearly 1.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) were sheltering in 155 UNRWA facilities across all five governorates of the Gaza Strip, including in the North and Gaza City. UNRWA shelter information is updated daily to the extent possible; the information for north Gaza and Gaza City was last updated 12 October due to access constraints and security situation.

• More than 1.2 million IDPs are sheltering in 98 UNRWA facilities in the Middle, Khan Younis and Rafah areas.

• In the period between 21 October and 10 December, UNRWA distributed 11,122 metric tons (MT) of flour.

• In the same period, UNRWA delivered to Gaza: - 419 MT of medicines and medical supplies with a total value of more than US$ 1.7 million.

• Over 11.6 million litres of water.

• 2.5 million units of high energy biscuits.

• Nearly 1.5 million cans of protein-based food, including beans, chicken, beef and canned meat.

• Over 4.5 million units of dairy items (cheese).

• Other food items including dates, cake and juice.

• Non-food items (NFI) including 44,045 mattresses; 62,765 family hygiene kits; almost 1.4 million diapers; 47,530 blankets; and 635,169 cleaning supply items.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

• On 15 December Israeli Security Forces (ISF) started a search and arrest operation in Nur Shams refugee camp in the northern West Bank. ISF surrounded the camp and declared it a closed military area. ISF reportedly fired several missiles from a drone and detonated one house in the camp. Bulldozers were used to damage camp infrastructure. At the time of writing, five Palestinians have been killed, two injured and four arrested. UNRWA operations in the camp were severely impacted.

• ISF search and arrest operations were also reported in Tulkarem and in Deir' Ammar refugee camp.

Overall Situation

The Gaza Strip

• Due to the shutdown of telecommunications and internet services in Gaza, which started on 14 December the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Gaza has not updated its casualty figures. Between 7 October and the afternoon of 14 December MOH has reported that 18,787 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, about 70 per cent of whom are reported to be women and children, and over 50,589have reportedly been injured.

The West Bank

• According to OCHA, since 7 October 268 Palestinians have been killed by ISF in the West Bank, including 70 children. In addition, eight Palestinians, have been killed by Israeli settlers and a further two killed either by ISF or settlers.
• This year (2023) has been the deadliest year for Palestinians killed in the West Bank since the UN began recording casualties in 2005.

Humanitarian Access, Protection of Civilians

The Gaza Strip

• UNRWA is working to verify the details of incidents reportedly affecting UNRWA premises between 14--16 December. Further information will be provided once it becomes available.
• On 14 December 2023, different incidents have been reported impacting UNRWA installations and the IDPs sheltering there. While verification of details and casualty figures are ongoing, initial reports indicate: eight IDPs were injured in one school in Al-Shabora Camp in Rafah, and collateral damage was caused to another school in the same incident; and in Khan Younis, one IDP child was injured in the Khan Younis Vocational Training Centre by a stray bullet.
• Additionally, five schools which were not sheltering IDPs in Jabalia Camp were assessed to be damaged -- for three of these it is reported that the IDPs had been forcefully evacuated on 11 December.
• **There were no reported incidents on 15 -- 16 December 2023. **
• 174 incidents impacting UNRWA premises and the people inside them have been reported since the beginning of the war (some with multiple incidents impacting the same location), including at least 18 incidents of military use and/or interference at UNRWA premises. **54 **different UNRWA installations were directly hit and 61 different installations sustained collateral damage.
• UNRWA estimates that in total at least **297 **IDPs sheltering in UNRWA shelters have been killed and at least a further 1,032 injured since the start of the war. UNRWA is still verifying the number of casualties caused by incidents that impacted its installations, and notes that these figures do not include some reported casualties where the number of injuries could not be determined.
• 174 incidents impacting UNRWA premises have been reported since the beginning of the hostilities (some with multiple incidents impacting the same location). 54 different UNRWA installations were directly hit and 61 different installations sustained collateral damage.
• UNRWA estimates that in total at least 297 IDPs sheltering in UNRWA shelters have been killedand at least 1,032 injured since the start of the hostilities. UNRWA is verifying the number of casualties caused by incidents that impacted its installations, and notes that these figures do not include some reported casualties where the number of injuries could not be determined.

UNRWA Response

The Gaza Strip

UNRWA Shelters

• In total, nearly 1.4 million displaced people are now sheltering in 155 UNRWA installations.
• The average number of IDPs in UNRWA shelters located in middle and southern areas is 12,387, more than four times their capacity.

Health

Due to internet outage we are unable to provide any updates since December 13.

• Eight (out of 22) UNRWA health centres are still operational in the Middle and Southern areas, recording 8,265 patients visits on 13 December, including Palestine Refugees and non-refugees.
• Midwives are providing care for post-natal and high-risk pregnant women at the eight operational health centres. There are an estimated 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, with more than 180 giving birth every day. A total of 124 post-natal and high-risk pregnancy cases were attended to at health centres.
• UNRWA continued to provide health care to IDPs at shelters through 97 medical teams. Each team is composed of one - two doctors and a nurse. 591 health workers in health centres and shelters provided support to 12,305 patients.
• On December 13, UNRWA medical teams responded to 1,013 mental health cases, including individual consultations, awareness sessions and support for gender-based violence cases.

Psychosocial support (PSS)

Due to internet outage we are unable to provide any updates since December 12.

• **UNRWA teams, including 284 social workers in the shelters, provided psychosocial first aid and other specialized protection services to IDPs. **Psychosocial support (PSS) efforts continued to be delivered in UNRWA shelters by a team of 284 school counsellors. Since 7 October, 101,211 IDPS have been reached.

Food Security

Due to internet outage we are unable to provide any updates since December 12.

• UNRWA continued to distribute flour outside of shelters in southern governorates. A total of 89,936 families have been reached so far.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Due to internet outage we are unable to provide any updates since December 12.

• On 12 December, UNRWA continued to operate nine water wells pumping about 10,000 cubic metres of water to provide potable and domestic water. Potable water trucking operations to the shelters in Rafah and Khan Younis areas continue.
• Shelters in Rafah and the Middle area continued to receive potable water through tankers from the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility.

Quote from Thomas White, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza

"Yesterday listening to people in an UNRWA shelter in Deir al Balah -- stories of grief and loss -- shocking living conditions -- yet an indefatigable will to survive and look after their loved ones -- very humbling."

#HearTheirVoices

ENDs -