All information from 6–7 February 2024, is valid as of 7 February 2024 at 22:30
Days 123-124 of Hostilities
Download UNRWA multimedia resources here
Key Points
The Gaza Strip
- Intense fighting in/around Khan Younis (southwest of Gaza) over the last 17 days is causing loss of life and damage to civilian infrastructure, including UNRWA’s largest shelter in the southern area, the Khan Younis Training Centre (KYTC). This is forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee further south towards Rafah, which is severely overcrowded, with reports of Israeli Forces’ strikes in Rafah on 7 February. It is estimated that there are currently up to 1.5 million people in Rafah. Further fighting in Rafah would further hamper overstretched humanitarian operations.
Accessing isolated populations north of Wadi Gaza remains a challenge. Between 1 January and 5 February only 10 UNRWA/UNRWA inclusive missions reached north Wadi Gazi out of 35 planned.
- As of 7 February, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is now 154.
- As of 7 February, up to 1.7 million* people (over 75 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. Following intense Israeli bombardments and fighting in Khan Younis and the Middle Area in recent days, a significant number of displaced people have moved further south.
*This includes one million individuals residing in or near emergency shelters or informal shelters. As of October 12, approximately 160,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded in north Gaza and Gaza governorates. The ability of UNRWA to provide humanitarian support and updated data in these areas has been severely restricted. The ongoing hostilities, evacuation orders issued by Israeli Forces, and the constant need for safer locations have resulted in people being displaced multiple times.
**UNRWA has reported in Situation Report 64 that up to 1.9 million IDPs are either residing in 154 UNRWA shelters or near these shelters. Due to the continued escalation of fighting and evacuation orders, some households have moved away from the shelters where they were initially registered.
*** There are instances where the same IDPs are registered in multiple shelters due to the fluid movement of populations; hereafter, estimates are used for these shelters. UNRWA plans to conduct a more accurate count of IDPs in shelters, including informal shelters, as soon as the security situation allows.
The West Bank, including East Jerusalem
Several Israeli Security Forces (ISF) search and arrest operations leading to confrontations with Palestinians occurred between 6-7 February.
Between 6 - 7 February, the following ISF search and arrest operations occurred:
- Overnight between 5 -6 February, ISF conducted a search and arrest operation in Aqbat Jaber refugee camp, central West Bank.
- In addition to search and arrest operations, overnight between 5- 6 February, ISF reportedly physically assaulted and injured one Palestinian at Wadi an Nar checkpoint, Southern West Bank.
- In the early morning on 6 January, three Palestinians were detained during a search and arrest operation in Nablus, northern West Bank. Then overnight between 6-7 February, another six Palestinians were detained. And on the night of 7 February, ISF reportedly opened fire during clashes with Palestinians in the city.
- On 6 February, a Palestinian from Balata camp allegedly attempted to attack ISF soldiers in the vicinity of Beit Furik checkpoint, northern West Bank. ISF reportedly shot and killed him then closed the checkpoint denying Palestinian access.
- Overnight between 6-7 February, ISF conducted search and arrest operations in Tulkarm city, Tulkarm refugee camp, Jenin city, Jenin refugee camp, Nur Shams refugee camp, Tammun, Al Yamun and Qalqiliya, northern West Bank. Exchanges of fire took place in several locations; six Palestinians were detained, and two Palestinians injured with live ammunition in Tammun. ISF bulldozers reportedly damaged and destroyed the infrastructure in Jenin refugee camp and Nur Shams refugee camp.
- On 7 February, it was reported that ISF surrounded a Palestinian house in Al Damaj quarter in Nur Shams refugee camp, targeted it with missiles, set it on fire, demolished parts of it, killing three Palestinians and injured two Palestinians with live ammunition, including a woman. UNRWA services were severely affected.
- Overnight between 6-7 February, clashes were reported between Palestinians and ISF in the vicinity of Road 60 in Al Khadr, southern West Bank. ISF reportedly held several Palestinians west of the village.
- On 7 February, ISF conducted a search and arrest operation in Tubas, northern West Bank. Exchange of fire was reported between Palestinians and ISF in Wad El Far'a, south of Tubas. A Palestinian was injured with live ammunition shrapnel and another Palestinian was detained.
- On 7 February, ISF reportedly opened fire at journalists and Palestinians near Iktaba village, opposite Nur Shams Camp, northern West Bank.
- On 7 February, ISF reportedly protected settlers while they entered Khallet Al-Farra community, southwest of Yatta, southern West Bank. The settlers reportedly physically assaulted Palestinians seized their cell phones and forced them to sit on the ground for long hours.
- On 7 February, ISF reportedly chased Palestinian youths in the Bab Al 'Amud Damascus Gate area in Jerusalem, central West Bank. ISF reportedly held a Palestinian child and handed him a summons order for interrogation.
- On 7 February, Palestinians demonstrated outside UNRWA offices in Jenin city and Nablus city, northern West Bank, and in Beituniya and West Jerusalem, central West Bank.
Overall Situation
The Gaza Strip
- According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza as of 7 February, at least 27,708 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since 7 October. About 70 per cent of those killed are reported to be women and children. Another 67,147 Palestinians have been reportedly injured.
The West Bank, including East Jerusalem
- According to OCHA, between 7 October 2023–7 February 2024, 377 Palestinians, including 96 children, have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
- Last year (2023) was the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the UN began recording casualties in 2005.
Humanitarian Access, Protection of Civilians
The Gaza Strip
Please see below the incidents for the period 6-7 February 2024, noting that some occurred earlier but information only became available during the reporting period:
- UNRWA is working to verify the details of incidents reportedly affecting UNRWA premises. Further information will be provided once it becomes available.
- Different incidents have been reported impacting UNRWA installations and internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltering there. While verification of details and casualty figures remain ongoing, initial reports indicate:
- On 27 January 2024, the ISF reportedly opened fire towards a school in Khan Younis. As a result, an UNRWA school attendant was shot and injured while performing maintenance of the school's solar panels. The injured person was transferred to the hospital.
- On 29 January 2024, an UNRWA contracted personnel was shot and killed at the rooftop of a school in Khan Younis while on duty. Despite multiple attempts, the security situation prevented the transfer of his remains. Currently, the body remains on the rooftop of the school, which is inaccessible to school personnel.
- On 6 February 2024, one missile hit an open area to the northeast of Qatari warehouse in Rafah Crossing. As a result some shrapnel fell in the vicinity of UNRWA stores. No damages or injuries were reported.
- On 7 February 2024, ISF tanks fired two shells directly toward a school in Khan Younis. One of the tank rounds hit a classroom resulting in four injuries among the IDPs sheltering in the school.
- In the morning of 7 February 2024, the ISF reportedly deployed a quadcopter drone over a school in Khan Younis, where approximately 1,800 IDPs were sheltering, ordering the evacuation of the school. The school principal was summoned to meet an ISF soldier stationed nearby. Under threat, she was instructed to gather all men while restricting women to a designated area. Approximately 800 men complied with the order and formed a line. The men were photographed , forced to fully remove their clothes, several individuals were beaten. 15 IDPs, including an UNRWA social worker, were then detained while completely naked. Their whereabouts are currently unknown. The remaining men and women were then coerced to leave and proceed onto a specific route. In the early afternoon, the IDPs and an UNRWA team managed to reach the UNRWA installation in Al Mawasi area.
Additionally, the ISF reportedly hit and destroyed the VHF antenna placed on the roof of the school, resulting in the disruption of communications between the school and UNRWA. - On 7 February 2024, about 1,000 IDPs sheltering at a school in Khan Younis were reportedly forced by ISF to leave the school and were subjected to mistreatment. The report was confirmed by UNRWA staff members and eyewitnesses.
- On 7 February 2024, the Israeli Forces ordered about 1,500 IDPs sheltering at a school in Khan Younis to leave the school and were subjected to mistreatment. Additionally, five IDPs were reportedly killed and others injured by ISF gunfire. The report was confirmed by UNRWA staff members and eyewitnesses.
- 298* 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 31 incidents of military use and/or interference at UNRWA premises. 150 different UNRWA installations have been impacted.
- UNRWA estimates that in total at least 395* IDPs sheltering in UNRWA shelters have been killed and at least a further 1,379* 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.
* Numbers are subject to change once further verifications have been conducted.
UNRWA Response
The Gaza Strip
Due to the security situation in combination with interruptions in internet connectivity we are unable to provide any additional updates since Sitrep 72.
UNRWA Shelters
- As of 7 February, in total, nearly 1.7 million displaced people are now sheltering across emergency shelters (UNRWA and public shelters), informal sites or in close vicinity to UNRWA shelters and distribution sites and within host communities.
Due to the security situation and ISF evacuation orders, between 150-155 UNRWA installations continue to shelter IDPs. Shelters are very congested.
Health
As of 2 February, only four (out of 22) UNRWA health centres were operational following the closure of two health centres in Khan Younis due to the Israel military operations. The remaining health centres are located in Rafah and Middle Areas.
357 health care staff remain working in the four operational health centres and on 4 February provided 9,269 medical consultations.
A further 6,058 medical consultations were conducted by 246 staff at shelters, and at the newly established medical points in Mawasi area to serve an influx of displaced population from Khan Younis, where the total registered population is currently 180,000.
In early January UNRWA received vaccines from UNICEF for its health centres. Eleven different types of vaccines were received (refrigerated and freezer storage). This allowed for vaccinations to restart. Since 3 January up to 3 February, over 22,300 children were vaccinated against diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella, and others.
Psychosocial support (PSS)
UNRWA continues to provide psychosocial support services including psychosocial first aid services, PSS consultations and intervention sessions, sessions to handing psychological fatigue and group and recreational activities. Since the war, over 109,000 IDPs have been supported.
During 5– 6 February, counsellors provided 924 individual and family consultations in Rafah, alongside 929 group PSS sessions. These efforts benefited 15,161 IDPs contributing to a cumulative total of 90,476 PSS sessions provided since the commencement of the hostilities. Additionally, counsellors provided psychological support to 468 UNRWA staff through both in-person and remote communication. The total number of staff that have been provided PSS since the beginning of the hostilities is 12,737.
Food Security
-
UNRWA continued to distribute flour outside of shelters in the southern governorates. A total of 362,033 families have been reached so far.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Due to the security situation in combination with internet connectivity we are unable to provide any additional updates since sitrep 67.
Quote from Ayat, UNRWA Relief and Social Services staff displaced in Deir el-Balah:
“Thirty-four years of working at UNRWA to serve refugees has been the noblest thing I have done. [...] I will retire in the next few months but have decided to volunteer if the war continues. I will not leave work here in this great institution at a time when we are needed.”
#HearTheirVoices
ENDs -
Your donations can help provide emergency humanitarian assistance. Donate today
|
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: |
|
|
Global Media Requests WhatsApp: +962-7-9130-0567 |
Japanese Media Requests WhatsApp: +972 54-240-2727
|
|
|
European Media Requests English/French: English/French/Spanish: |
Email: |
|
|
|
|
