Gaza situation report, 20 November

UNRWA Commissioner-General visits Gaza today

UNRWA Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi visited Gaza today to see firsthand the immense destruction taking place and to recognise UNRWA staff’s dedicated work despite the violence. Mr. Grandi met refugees, and he also spoke to staff at Jabalia distribution centre and commented on how impressed he was with their commitment. The distribution centre was badly damaged in the airstrikes, but was subsequently repaired by staff to enable food distributions to thousands of refugees.

Mr. Grandi emphasised that the immediate issue is to achieve a cease-fire, and he called for all to support the efforts of the Secretary-General in this regard. Mr. Grandi also stressed that we should not forget the underlying issues. For years Gazans have been living under a blockade that restricts their movement and exports, and has decimated the economy. “The blockade is affecting their daily lives and must be solved.”

Situational overview

For the seventh consecutive day, the Israeli military operation has spread fear among the civilians of Gaza. Massive Israeli Air Force (IAF) strikes, heavy tank and Israeli navy fire, have been ongoing during the past 24 hours. The situation was calmer for a few hours during the late morning, but attacks have resumed intensively in the early afternoon. Very violent explosions have been heard throughout the Gaza Strip. The number of civilian victims continues to rise.

Read more: Emergency in Gaza

The population lives in constant fear; there is no safe space remaining in Gaza, as the targeting of residential buildings by the IAF continues. Intensive tank fire in the border areas, creating panic among the population, caused increased civilian displacement.

Over 50 per cent of the population in Gaza is below 18 years of age. These are children who have been constantly exposed to violence. The additional severe military escalation that is currently ongoing will only add to their already-existing psychological trauma.

No ground operation has been launched. The UN and the international community are extremely concerned and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was quoted in Cairo today saying: "Immediate steps are needed by all to avoid a further escalation, including a ground operation which will only result in further tragedy." The UNRWA Commissioner-General, during his visit to Gaza today, said: "What usually triggers displacement is a ground operation; a ground offensive. That‘s why we really hope that a ground offensive will not happen, because – among many other things – it will also cause a lot of humanitarian problems."

Heavy rocket firing towards the Israeli territory has been ongoing, including two rockets that were fired into the suburbs of Jerusalem this afternoon. It is the second time since the beginning of the Israeli military operation that rockets landed close to Jerusalem.

The situation in the streets remained unchanged; there are few movements and people only go out when absolutely necessary. Some food stores, fruit and vegetable markets, and pharmacies opened again today. Shortages in basic items are to be expected in the coming days should the situation remain unchanged or deteriorate.

Intensive IAF shelling of the tunnel area has been ongoing and it is extremely risky to be in that area. However, fuel kept being pumped in, but in lower amounts and with interruptions.

The number of displaced families has further increased. UNRWA has opened one school in Gaza City, where approximately 700 refugees have taken shelter.

Gaza: facts and figures

1.2 million refugees
8 refugee camps
12,000 staff
245 schools for 225,000 students
21 health centres
12 food distribution centres for more than 800,000 refugees
Living under a tightened land and sea blockade since 2007
Shattered local economy

Urgent funding need (USD)

Food assistance: 6 million
Cash assistance: 2 million
Non-food items: 1 million
Urgent repair of installations and refugee shelters: 1.5 million
Medical supplies: 400,000
Job creation programme support to the Ministry of Health (MOH): 210,000
Fuel (municipalities, MoH): 1.5 million
Waste and rubble removal: 100,000
Total: 12.71 million

UNRWA’s response

This afternoon, the Israeli Defence Forces started dropping leaflets in Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun, and Jabalia, advising people to move south along Saladeen Street into Downtown Gaza. UNRWA opened its first shelter in Rimal Preparatory Boys’ School A and B to accommodate the initial displacement of 125 individuals from Attrah neighborhood (North Gaza). Our shelter currently (as of 15:40) has 700 individuals who have moved from North Gaza. More schools (New Gaza Preparatory Boys’ School A and C, Beach Elementary Boys’ School A and B, New Gaza Elementary Boys’ School C and D, Asma Elementary Co-educational School A and B) are planned to be open should the situation worsen in the coming hours, to accommodate the incoming number of displaced.

Displacement of 30 families (170 individuals) from the Beit Hanoun area and 50 to 60 families from the Jabalia area was also reported. These families have reportedly been hosted by relatives or friends in other less-insecure locations.

UNRWA is currently registering and assessing the needs of displaced families in co-ordination and co-operation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Norwegian Refugee Council. UNRWA has started to distribute non-food items (NFIs) such as mattresses and blankets and will continue to assist refugee families while other actors assist non-refugee families. Funding is urgently needed to cover the distribution of emergency food that may be needed due to the current escalation.

The Agency received a request from the Ministry of Social Affairs today to distribute NFIs to approximately 280 families in Northern Gaza – Khan Younis and Rafah. An assessment of these families is also being conducted to review the appropriateness of potential assistance.

Urgent action has been taken to donate medical supplies to the Gaza Ministry of Health (MoH) from the current UNRWA stock, to support the current operations of the MoH in caring for the injured. The Agency will require USD 400,000 to subsequently replenish its own stocks. UNRWA is also currently reviewing its database for job creation programme staff to support health-care professionals in hospitals dealing with the surge in patients as a result of the ongoing violence.

As of yesterday, 19 out of 21 UNRWA health centres continued to provide a range of services to the population in Gaza. Two health centres remained closed due to their close proximity to the border. Today more than 700 health staff voluntarily reported to work in the nearest health centres to their home, treating almost 13,000 patients. The number of patients reporting to our health centres continues to be lower than usual due to the fact that most people remain at home, as it is too dangerous to move in Gaza and most of the injured visit hospitals instead of health centres.

Once again UNRWA opened all 12 distribution centres across Gaza, distributing food assistance to more than 25,000 beneficiaries. UNRWA monitoring has shown that the food assistance provided to refugees is generally insufficient to cover family needs for the full three months between regular distributions; thus, refugees will be desperate for this food assistance. Today, distribution centres served an increasing number of refugees who had not been able to collect food over the past few days. UNRWA and its staff will continue to do everything possible to ensure that the poorest of refugees receive their replenishment of food assistance as scheduled.

The current security situation, the closure of the shops, and the concerns around food availability, worry the population extremely. Around 600 non-refugees and refugees who are not eligible for food assistance (according to targeting results of UNRWA’s poverty survey) have visited our distribution centres seeking assistance.

UNRWA continued to provide solid waste collection in the eight refugee camps across Gaza to mitigate any public health concerns. Yesterday alone, UNRWA sanitation workers collected 250 tons of solid waste in the eight refugee camps. UNRWA is very thankful for the dedication of its sanitation staff, who – despite the danger they are undergoing when moving inside the camps – continue to voluntarily report to work, ensuring that solid waste does not accumulate.

UNRWA is extremely proud of its staff, who – under such dangerous circumstances – are at work ensuring that services to Palestine refugees continue to be delivered. The dedication of our staff is extraordinary and a true example of humanitarian work.

UNRWA casualties

No casualties with an UNRWA connection were reported.

UNRWA installations

No UNRWA installations or those with an Agency connection were reported damaged.

Crossings

Rafah crossing is open per normal schedule. On 19 November, 380 people arrived into Gaza, 554 crossed into Egypt, and 36 were denied travel.
Kerem Shalom crossing was open today, before closing early due to shelling. 24 trucks arrived in Gaza today with fruits, flour, biscuits, sheep, cooking gas, and UNRWA fuel. On a typical day the daily average through Kerem Shalom is 250 trucks.
Erez crossing was open. On 19 November, 31 travellers crossed into Israel (ten foreigners and 21 humanitarian cases) and 80 travellers crossed into Gaza (68 foreigners, including 61 journalists and seven INGO and UN staff; 12 Palestinians).