UNRWA Situation Report #80 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem

• Increased airstrikes in Rafah have heightened fears that they will further hamper overstretched humanitarian operations. Nearly 1.5 million people are in Rafah, more than six times the population in comparison with before 7 October.
• Intense fighting in and around Khan Younis (southwest of Gaza) over the last four weeks 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. At the same time, population movements out of Rafah and towards Deir Al Balah and Nuseirat refugee camps in the Middle Area have been reported, following intensified airstrikes on Rafah.
• As of 19 February, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis continues to be besieged by Israeli forces.  Access was finally granted on 18 February and UN and Palestine Red Crescent Society officials visited the hospital and managed to evacuate 14 patients; negotiations are on-going for the evacuation of the remaining patients, who are believed to number over 100. 
• There are reportedly 10,000 displaced people within the hospital’s premises, including 300 medical personnel, and reportedly up to 70 medical personnel have been detained. On 16 February, Ministry of Health reported that eight patients had died due to a lack of oxygen supplies and a number of people who were relocated to a building within the Nasser Hospital premises had no food, water or baby formula.   
• The number of trucks entering Gaza remains well below the target of 500 per day, with significant difficulties in bringing supplies in through both Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Rafah. The Food Security Cluster reported that a consistent food supply to serve the entire population continues to be hindered by frequent border closures.  Supplies of flour inside Gaza are extremely limited due to lack of access to the north and law and order challenges at the crossing.
  • During this period, UNRWA has at times had to temporarily stop discharging supplies due to security concerns.  Furthermore, provision of security to manage law and order at the crossing has been severely impacted due to de facto-police authorities being targeted over the last few weeks. 
• As of 19 February, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is now 158.
• As of 19 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 12 October, 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 reported in Situation Report 64 that up to 1.9 million IDPs were 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 

• Between 15 - 19 February, more than 129  search operations by ISF were reported across the West Bank, averaging more than 25 per day. At least 92 Palestinians were detained during this period, including four children. Two Palestinians were shot dead in Tulkarm Camp, northern West Bank, on 18 February during an search operation that also resulted in the evacuation of UNRWA schools in the refugee camp.
• Clashes in Shu’fat Camp, East Jerusalem, escalated over 16-18 February after a camp resident allegedly opened fire at Israelis at a bus station in Kiryat Malakhi settlement, killing two and injuring four before being killed during the exchange of fire. Both live ammunition and tear gas were used on camp residents, and relatives of the Palestinian involved were detained or summoned for interrogation. 
• A number of settler incidents were recorded between 15 February and 19 February. On 16 February in Kisan, southern West Bank, residential and agricultural structures and a vehicle were burnt by settlers. On 17 February in Asira al Qibliya, southern West Bank, settlers deployed a mobile checkpoint at the entrance to the village and assaulted Palestinian residents. On 18 February in Turmus’ayya, central West Bank, settlers attacked Palestinian houses, set fire to Palestinian vehicles, and sprayed anti-Arab slogans on the walls. On 19 February clashes between settlers, ISF and Palestinians were reported in Burqa, northern West Bank, wherein houses and vehicles were set on fire, tear gas was deployed, and Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulances were prevented from entering the village.

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  People walking in Deir Al-Balah amidst continued power outage, the Middle Areas, Gaza Strip, February 2024. © 2024 UNRWA Photo by Ashraf Amra