UNRWA Situation Report #152 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information updated for 11 - 17 December 2024, valid as of 17 December 2024 at 22:30

In-Depth Coverage

UNRWA

22 Dec 2024

Highlights

Several UNRWA schools have been impacted by conflict-related incidents over the reporting period. In an Israeli Forces strike on an UNRWA school-turned-shelter in Khan Younis, at least 13 people have been reportedly killed and 48 injured.
According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), more than 160 children have been reportedly killed in Gaza in a little over a month, for an average of four children killed every day since the beginning of November.
A United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) preliminary analysis based on images collected on 1 December 2024 shows that nearly 70 per cent of structures across the Gaza Strip have been damaged or destroyed.

Key Points

The Gaza Strip

Strikes by the Israeli Forces continue, with aerial, land and maritime bombardments across the Gaza Strip, resulting in civilian casualties and the destruction of residential buildings and public infrastructure.
In northern Gaza, since 6 October 2024, the Israeli Forces have been carrying out a ground offensive and continue to impose a tight siege. Intense military operations are ongoing amid a near total lack of humanitarian aid entering the area, in addition to severe communications and internet disruptions. Some parts of the North Gaza governorate have been under a tightened siege for more than ten weeks. Access remains extremely challenging and partners' ongoing attempts to deliver aid into these besieged areas continues to be largely prevented, leaving 10,000-15,000 people without access to food, water, electricity or healthcare, as mass casualty incidents continue.
On 12 December, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that as of 4 December, a total of 5,325 patients have been evacuated from the Gaza Strip since October 2023, 80 per cent of whom are children, with only 378 patients, including 217 children, evacuated since the Rafah crossing closed in May 2024.
According to OCHA, the Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in North Gaza reported nearly daily attacks on or very close to the facility between 11 and 17 December. On 12 December, the Ministry of Health as reported by OCHA announced that the last orthopaedic doctor in North Gaza, was killed while on his way from Kamal Adwan to the nearby Al Awda Hospital to treat patients.
On 13 December, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights published a statement on the repeated Israeli Forces attacks impacting residential buildings and displacement shelters in the Gaza Strip.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russel stated that more than 160 children have been reportedly killed in Gaza in a little over a month, for an average of four children killed every day since the beginning of November.
OCHA reported that a study published by War Child Alliance and based on data collected in June 2024, 96 per cent of children in the surveyed households (where at least one child is injured, disabled, unaccompanied or separated from parents) felt that their death was imminent.
A preliminary analysis from UNOSAT based on images collected on 1 December 2024 showed that around 69 per cent of the total structures in the Gaza Strip and a total of over 245,000 estimated damaged housing units.
OCHA reported that an Education Cluster assessment highlighted that nearly 88 per cent of school buildings in the Gaza Strip (496 out of 564) have been directly hit or damaged. Fifty-five per cent of these schools (275) are government schools, a third (161) are UNRWA schools, and 12 per cent (57) are private schools.
According to OCHA, between 11 and 14 December, the Israeli Forces issued four evacuation orders , affecting at least 69,000 people in parts of Gaza City, North Gaza, Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis.
- On 11 December, the Israeli Forces issued an evacuation order of for the area of Maghazi. Two UNRWA installations are located in the area while an additional eight UNRWA installations are located in close proximity to the Israeli Forces' evacuation zone.
- On 12 December, the Israeli Forces issued an evacuation order for areas of Gaza City. Eight UNRWA installations are located in the area while an additional two UNRWA installations are located in close proximity to the Israeli Forces evacuation zone.
- On 13 December, the Israeli Forces issued an evacuation order impacting Jabalia. Five UNRWA installations are located in the Israeli Forces' evacuation zone.
- On 15 December, the Israeli Forces issued an evacuation order for areas of Beit Hanoun. Twelve UNRWA installations are located there.
According to OCHA, as of 17 December, around 80.5 per cent of the Gaza Strip is under active Israeli-issued evacuation orders.
According to the UN, at least 1.9 million people - or about 90 per cent of the population - across the Gaza Strip are displaced. Many have been displaced repeatedly, some 10 times or more.
Between 7 October 2023 and 17 December 2024, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza as stated by OCHA, at least 45,059 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza and 107,041 have been injured.
OCHA reports that, on 20 October, the MoH published the breakdown of 40,717 out of 42,010 fatalities as of 7 October 2024. These reportedly include 13,319 children, 7,216 women, 3,447 elderly, and 16,735 men. Among the child fatalities, 786 children are under one year of age, representing about six per cent of killed children whose full identification details have been documented, the MoH further reported. Additionally, as of 7 October 2024, the MoH noted that 35,055 children had lost one or both parents over the past year.
As of 18 December, the total number of UNRWA team members killed since 7 October 2023 is 258.
Several challenges continue to stand in the way of collecting much needed humanitarian supplies from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing point in southern Gaza. These include deteriorating law and order, war and insecurity, damaged infrastructure, fuel shortages and access restrictions.
On 11 December, a 70-truck convoy entering through the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing was violently attacked by looters, leading to the loss of nearly all food and aid supplies.
According to OCHA, between 1 and 15 December, 1,213 humanitarian trucks were permitted to enter the Gaza Strip. This represents a daily average of only 81 humanitarian trucks, well below the pre-war average of 500 trucks per working day.
OCHA reported that, of the 339 humanitarian movements coordinated with Israeli authorities across Gaza from 1 to 16 December 2024, 141 were denied access, 62 impeded, 34 cancelled due to logistical and security challenges and only 102 facilitated.
Out of the 96 aid movements needed to pass through the Israeli military-controlled Al Rashid or Salah Ad Din checkpoints to reach areas north of Wadi Gaza between 1 and 16 December, 41 were denied, 25 were impeded, 14 had to be cancelled and 16 were facilitated.
Aid missions to the North Gaza governorate were particularly disrupted, especially those seeking to reach Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun. Between 1 and 16 December, the UN attempted to reach besieged areas in North Gaza 40 times, 38 of which were outright denied, and two were impeded.
OCHA reported that coordinated aid missions to areas in Rafah governorate, which has been under an ongoing Israeli military operation since early May, have faced similar challenges, with all the 20 coordinated requests submitted to Israeli authorities between 1 and 16 December denied. This excludes 47 coordinated movements to Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing, of which two were denied, nine impeded, three cancelled and 33 facilitated.
The latest information on supplies entering Gaza can be accessed through the link below:

Gaza Supplies and Dispatch Tracking | UNRWA

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem update is now once a week.

According to OCHA, between 7 October 2023 and 31 October 2024, 736 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, of those, 430 Palestinians were killed since the beginning of 2024.
On 14 December, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini posted on X (previously know as Twitter) that UNRWA had been forced to suspend services in Jenin Camp "for yet another day, as violent clashes between Palestinian Security Forces & Palestinian armed actors continue", highlighting that tensions are on the rise across northern West Bank refugee camps.
Between 9 and 15 December eight Palestinians were killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Of these, five were killed by Israeli Forces, and three were killed by Palestinian Security Forces (PSF). During this period, an estimated 158 Palestinians were detained by Israeli Forces, and 14 Palestinians detained by the PSF.
Two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli Forces drone strike in Tubas on 9 December. One Palestinian was killed by the Israeli Forces in an exchange of fire between Israeli Forces and Palestinians during a search operation in Qalqiliya on 12 December. On the same day, a Palestinian was killed by the Israeli Forces and three others injured during an exchange of fire while an Israeli Forces search operation was underway in Balata camp. On 13 December Israeli Forces opened fire in clashes with Palestinians during a search operation in Beit 'Awwa, west of Hebron, killing one Palestinian.
This period saw continued violent clashes between the PSF and Palestinian armed actors in and around Jenin camp, in the northern West Bank. A major PSF operation commenced early on 14 December, with at least two Palestinians reportedly killed by the PSF in the early morning. This followed another Palestinian killed in the camp by the PSF on 9 December. All UNRWA services in the camp have been forced to suspend, and basic services including electricity and water supply have been interrupted.
On 11 December a Palestinian allegedly killed an Israeli child and injured three other Israelis near Bethlehem, after opening fire at a bus travelling from an Israeli settlement to Jerusalem. The alleged perpetrator reportedly surrendered himself to the Israeli Forces the following day.

Overall situation

The Gaza Strip

Between 7 October 2023 and 17 December 2024, according to the MoH in Gaza as stated by OCHA, at least 45,059 Palestinians reportedly have been killed in the Gaza Strip while 107,041 have been reported injured.

Humanitarian Access, Protection of Civilians

UNRWA is working to verify the details of incidents that reportedly impact UNRWA premises. Further information will be provided once it becomes available*.
During the reporting period, four new armed conflict-related incidents have been reported impacting UNRWA installations and displaced people sheltering there, including UNRWA personnel:
On 15 December, the Israeli Forces hit an UNRWA school in Khan Younis. Initial reports indicate that at least 13 people were killed and 48 injured. Further verification of the number of casualties is ongoing.
On 15 December, an UNRWA school in Beit Hanoun was reportedly severely damaged due to Israeli Forces strikes, including tank fire. In addition, the Israeli Forces tanks reportedly surrounded the school, and people were detained inside the school. The number of people killed and injured is being verified, while initial public and other reporting references a high number of fatalities (ten to forty persons being killed).
On 15 December, shrapnel hit an UNRWA school in Nuseirat reportedly due to three Israeli Forces strikes towards New camp, north of Al-Nuseirat camp. No injuries were reported.
On 10 December, two displaced people were reportedly injured inside an UNRWA school in Maghazi due to Israeli Forces tank shelling towards east of Al-Maghazi Camp. No damage to the school was reported.

* Since the start of the war in October 2023, the latest casualty figures are continuously under review as UNRWA gets access to locations that were previously inaccessible and as further verifications occur. The summary figures will be published/updated as information becomes available, noting that these numbers are subject to change once verifications are concluded.

UNRWA Response

The Gaza Strip

Health

According to the Health Cluster, UNRWA remains one of the largest health actors operating in the Gaza Strip, contributing to over half of the people reached with health services since 7 October 2023. Between 7 October 2023 and 8 December 2024, UNRWA provided over 6.8 million medical consultations across the Gaza Strip.
In addition to medical consultations, UNRWA (in partnership with and support from other UN agencies, including UNICEF and WHO) continues to provide vaccines to children. Over 225,000 routine immunisation vaccines have been administered to children from the start of 2024 until 8 December 2024. In addition, around 560,000 children across the Gaza Strip have been vaccinated against polio.
As of 16 December, three out of 22 UNRWA health centres and four additional rented facilities used as temporary health centres were operational in Gaza. Health services were also provided by 97 mobile medical teams working in 54 medical points inside and outside shelters in the middle area, Khan Younis, Al Mawasi and Gaza. UNRWA health facilities provide primary health care, including outpatient services, non-communicable disease care, medications, vaccination, antenatal and postnatal health care, laboratory services, dental services, physiotherapy and dressings for the injured. The number of operational health facilities changes constantly based on demand, access and security.
As of 16 December, 1,281 UNRWA health staff continued to work in health centres, temporary clinics and medical points across the Gaza Strip, providing 15,173 medical consultations on that day.
UNRWA continued to provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services in the middle and Khan Younis areas, with teams of psychiatrists and supervisors to assist special cases referred from UNRWA health centres and shelters. On 16 December, UNRWA teams responded to 431 cases in health centres and at medical points through individual consultations, awareness sessions and to address cases of gender-based violence (GBV).
On 16 December, UNRWA medical teams provided care for 470 post-natal and pregnant women at high risk.
On 16 December, UNRWA teams provided dental and oral health services in dental stations and mobile dental clinics, reaching 501 patients, including referred cases from remote dental consultations.
On 16 December, 289 patients received physiotherapy rehabilitation services in health centres and medical points.
If not replenished, stocks of medicines in UNRWA health facilities are low and at least 60 items are likely to l run out within a month. UNRWA laboratory services are now limited to three tests out of nearly 35 that were available before 7 October 2023. This is due to limited availability of stocks of most laboratory supplies. Laboratory equipment requires maintenance or replacement.

Psychosocial Support and Learning

UNRWA remains the largest provider of emergency learning and psychosocial support across the Gaza Strip. Around 660,000 children are out of school due to the war. On 1 August 2024, UNRWA began its first phase response of "Back to Learning" with a focus on mental health activities. This is taking place in up to 45 UNRWA schools-turned-shelters[2] by expanding ongoing PSS activities, focusing on arts, music and sports and raising awareness on the risks of explosive ordnance, with the support of nearly 750[3] school counsellors and hundreds of teachers. UNRWA continues to provide lifesaving PSS services in Gaza, including psychological first aid, individual and group counselling, fatigue management sessions, recreational activities, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education and protection cash assistance, reaching children, youth and adults.
Since the onset of the conflict and up to 16 December, around 730,000 displaced people, including over 520,000 children, have benefited from 277,307 PSS sessions and activities. Between 10 and 16 December, a total of 16,733 displaced people accessed these services.
More than 18,000 children, over half of them girls, have benefited from UNRWA's "Back to Learning" programme so far. Between 10 and 16 December, 14,507 children (5,636 boys, 8,871 girls, including 382 children with disabilities) participated in a variety of "Back to Learning" activities, including basic literacy and numeracy sessions, PSS sessions, and recreational activities such as arts, music and sports. The activities were conducted daily across 86 temporary learning spaces in 40 shelters, for an average of seven hours per day. This is thanks to 963 UNRWA teachers, with support from counsellors, aiming to address the psychosocial needs of children and adolescents.
Between 7 October 2023 and 16 December 2024, UNRWA's social work team has provided services to 196,245 displaced people, including psychological first aid, PSS services, family and individual activities, as well as case management. During the same reporting period, protection services were provided to 1,795 survivors of GBV and 2,910 children, including 1,454 unaccompanied children, covering reunification, safe sheltering, medication, dignity kits and non-food items through referrals. The team also supported 21,430 persons with disabilities with PSS; 7,753 of these individuals received assistive devices and rehabilitation services. Awareness sessions on GBV, child protection, disability and special needs, as well as managing social and psychological stressors, were conducted for 129,475 displaced people.

* Due to further verification, figures have decreased compared to those reported in the previous situation report (#151).

Food Security

From 7 October 2023 to 17 December 2024, a total of 388,054 families (nearly 1.9 million people) have been reached with two rounds of flour; 374,909 of those families have received three rounds.
UNRWA continues to distribute food parcels wherever possible. These include[4] rice, chickpeas, lentils, oil, salt, sugar, milk powder, hummus and canned fish, and are designed to cover approximately 90 per cent of daily calorific needs per quarter. To date, over 1.46 million people have been reached, of whom 215,000 people have received two rounds of food parcels since the war started.
In addition to the distribution of UNRWA food parcels, the Agency distributes food parcels on behalf of other UN organisations, reaching over 1.4 million people.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Since October 2023, UNRWA has carried out emergency WASH activities across the Gaza Strip. The main activities include operating and maintaining water wells and desalination systems and supplying water with water trucks and bottled water. In addition, UNRWA continues to distribute hygiene kits and maintain hygiene in UNRWA shelters and sites by providing cleaning supplies, community-based solid waste management and pest control.
UNRWA continues to be one of the largest WASH actors in the Gaza Strip. Since the beginning of the war, the Agency has maintained and rehabilitated eight wells, providing over 600,000 displaced people with access to water. In the first two weeks of December, around 38,000 cubic metres of water - both potable and domestic - were distributed across the Gaza Strip.
Winterization efforts are ongoing in southern Gaza and the middle area, with over 215 manholes cleaned in the first two weeks of December. 84 cleaning and pest and rodent control measures were completed. Moreover, UNRWA conducted 45 awareness sessions and distributed over 1800 litres of cleaning liquids for shelters across the Gaza Strip.
UNRWA continues to provide a solid waste collection and transfer service in southern Gaza and the middle area. Over the first two weeks of December, 1,972 tons of solid waste have been collected and transported to the temporary dumping sites.

[1] Some of the information is reported during the reporting period but does not necessarily correspond to the reporting period.

[2] Pre-conflict, UNRWA had 22 health centres. Following the onset of the conflict, an additional five temporary health centres were established for a total of 27.

[3] Initially reaching 45 UNRWA schools/shelters, "Back to Learning" will gradually expand to 94 schools in future phases.

[4] 176 school counsellors and 566 assistant counsellors.

[5] The composition of the food parcel may change based on food item availability.

Quote from Louise Wateridge, UNRWA Senior Emergency Officer in Gaza:

"Every single day we are waking up to a new horror."

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UNRWA Situation Report #152 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information updated for 11 - 17 December 2024, valid as of 17 December 2024 at 22:30

ENDS-