Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Palestine
The UN and its partners in Palestine are working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: 17 interconnected Goals which address the major development challenges faced by people in Palestine and around the world. These are the goals the UN is working on in Palestine:
Story
14 May 2024
UN security staff killed in Gaza; Guterres calls for probe
Condemning all attacks on UN personnel, Secretary-General António Guterres called for a full investigation, his deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, told journalists in New York. “With the conflict in Gaza continuing to take a heavy toll – not only on civilians, but also on humanitarian workers – the Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the release of all hostages,” he said.Questioned by journalists, Mr. Haq said that the UN was still gathering information on the incident. He later confirmed that the security personnel killed was an international staff member, marking the first such UN death in the Gaza conflict.Separately, UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA reported that another of its staff members had been killed in the war, bringing the total number to 188.The 53-year-old senior projects officer was killed on Sunday in an Israeli strike in the central town of Deir Al Balah, after leaving Rafah.
1 of 5
Story
13 May 2024
We must prevent a large-scale offensive in Rafah, UN pleads
The warning comes as the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, reported that over the past week that nearly 300,000 people have now fled Rafah following the Israeli military’s orders for further evacuations from area.“There is nowhere safe to go,” the agency warned in a message on X.Catastrophic consequencesIn a telephone conversation on Saturday, UN chief António Guterres and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani agreed that “a full-scale military operation in Rafah would have catastrophic consequences and must be prevented,” according to a report of the conversation published by the office of the Secretary-General’s spokesperson.“The Secretary-General expressed deep appreciation for Qatar’s continued mediation efforts to broker a deal for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of hostages,” he said.Mr. Guterres also discussed the situation in Gaza on Sunday in Kuwait City with the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber.In a comment to the press on Sunday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said he was “deeply distressed by the fast deterioration in Gaza as Israeli forces intensify their air strikes” across Gaza.He also expressed concern about reports of indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza.‘Where should they go now?’Mr. Türk noted that the latest evacuation orders from the Israeli army concern nearly a million people in Rafah. Since the Israeli military issued initial evacuation orders on 6 May, more than 278,000 Gazans have fled Rafah, an area one deemed a safe zone.“Where should they go now? There is no safe place in Gaza,” he said.These are exhausted and hungry people, many of whom have already been displaced several times, and do not have good options, he said.Other towns in Gaza, including Khan Younis, which is currently supposed to host displaced people from Rafah, have already been reduced to rubble and remain under attack.“These are not safe places,” he stressed.Flouting world court ordersThe human rights chief said he did not see how the latest evacuation orders, much less a general assault, in an area with an extremely dense presence of civilians, can be reconciled with the binding demands of international humanitarian law and with the two sets of binding provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).“A large-scale offensive on Rafah cannot take place,” he said, calling on all influential States to do everything in their power to prevent it to protect civilian lives.Dire aid shortage amid border closuresAt the same time, there is a “dire shortage” of aid reaching Gaza, Mr. Türk said.“At this desperate moment, exacerbated by acts impeding the entry of humanitarian aid in Gaza through the three crossings, there is a dire shortage of fuel,” he warned.Fuel shortages are “hindering everything”, from the movement of food and operation of hospitals to sewage treatment and telecommunications, he added.Expressing concern for the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers, he called on Israel and Palestinian armed groups to urgently agree to a ceasefire and immediately release all hostages.
1 of 5
Story
10 May 2024
‘Outrageous’ arson attack forces UNRWA to temporarily shutter East Jerusalem compound
Posting on social media, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said “Israeli residents set fire twice to the perimeter” on Thursday evening. UNRWA personnel and staff from other UN agencies were inside the compound at the time. "Our director with the help of other staff had to put out the fire themselves as it took the Israeli fire extinguishers and police a while before they turned up," he said.This marked “the second appalling incident in less than a week” following a similar violent protest on Tuesday. ‘An outrageous development’ While there were no casualties among UNRWA staff, the fire caused extensive damage to the outdoor areas, he said, noting that a petrol and diesel station is on the grounds to service the agency’s fleet of cars. A crowd accompanied by armed men were witnessed outside the compound chanting “burn down the United Nations,” he added. “This is an outrageous development,” he said. “Once again, the lives of UN staff were at serious risk.” Protest turned violent Mr. Lazzarini said he has taken the decision to close down the compound “until proper security is restored”. Israeli extremists have been staging protests outside the UNRWA compound in Jerusalem over the past two months “called by an elected member of the Jerusalem municipality.” He noted that Tuesday’s protest had turned violent when demonstrators threw stones at UN staff and at the buildings, “under the watch of the Israeli police.”Harassment, intimidation and vandalism “Over the past months, UN staff have regularly been subjected to harassment and intimidation. Our compound has been seriously vandalized and damaged. On several occasions, Israeli extremists threatened our staff with guns,” he said. The UNRWA chief stressed that it is the responsibility of Israel as the occupying power to ensure that UN personnel and facilities are protected at all times. “I call on all those who have influence to put an end to these attacks and hold all those responsible accountable,” he said. “The perpetrators of these attacks must be investigated and those responsible must be held accountable. Anything less will set a new dangerous standard.”
1 of 5
Story
09 May 2024
Israeli forces bringing war to the West Bank, warns UN rights office
a senior official with the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Wednesday. “The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is acting as if there is an armed conflict in the West Bank,” Ajith Sunghay, head of the OHCHR office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, told UN News.He said the situation there was already very dire even before hostilities erupted in Gaza following the brutal Hamas-led incursion into Israel on 7 October. Settler violence and demolitions Last year was the deadliest ever for Palestinians in the West Bank since the UN began keeping records in 2005, and there was also a spike in violations including settler violence, excessive use of force by the IDF, demolitions and evictions. Demolitions were reported on Tuesday in the northern village of Furush Beit Dajan, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said on social media. Mr. Sunghay said that while global attention has been focused on Gaza, the intensity and frequency of violations increased in the West Bank. “If we talk about the number of people killed or injured, either because of these massive incursions by the IDF into the West Bank – particularly in Tulkarem, Jenin, Nablus, sometimes into Jericho and other parts as well – that spiked up,” he said. The number of people detained has also “spiked up massively”, reaching close to 9,000, he added. He noted that “whatever happens in Gaza has a massive impact on the West Bank,” and vice versa, “because they're the same people”. “We now see huge fear among the population of the West Bank as well on a regular basis, worried about incursions, worried about raids, worried about arrest and detention, worried about settler violence and, of course, with massive significant movement restrictions that impacts their day-to-day life.” This interview has been edited for length and clarity Ajith Sunghay: Our biggest concern is the spike in violence we are seeing, particularly coming from very emboldened settlers. Because the attention is focused on Gaza, they feel emboldened. There’s been massive lack of accountability or, in other words, impunity for violations that have been committed by the IDF in the West Bank, so they continue to violate or continue to attack Palestinians, Palestinian towns and villages. So, the lack of safety and security of people is at the top-most concern for us. The Israeli Defense Forces is acting as if there is an armed conflict in the West Bank. The applicable law in the West Bank is the human rights law enforcement framework, which means the force that the IDF can use is limited to that legal framework. In the West Bank, there is no armed conflict, but the nature of these operations that are being conducted by the IDF indicate that they're using massive numbers of soldiers, drones, sometimes fighter jets dropping bombs, shoulder-fired missiles – heavy weapons – which are used generally in an armed conflict, not in law enforcement.Another concern is movement restrictions, arrests and detention. People are unable to move between towns, communities and cities within the West Bank. That has had a major impact on the economy and on the family structures, society and, more generally, the Palestinian community. UN News: In this situation, when we're speaking about an occupied territory, it is supposed that the occupying power acts as law enforcement, as the side that maintains law and order. But, based on what you are describing, it is vice versa. Can you explain?Ajith Sunghay: That is correct, and unfortunately, that has been the case. In international law, the responsibility and the obligation of the occupying power is to provide protection. That is expected of Israel and that includes the IDF that is to provide safety and security and protect the population of the occupied territory, and that is the Palestinians. However, what we have seen consistently and that has increased since the 7 October is that the IDF ends up providing security to the settlers who are actually attacking Palestinians. Many times we have found them being bystanders. In many cases, they have facilitated these attacks. In many instances, we have started seeing that the settlers are also wearing IDF clothes, so it’s very difficult to distinguish between the two.Unfortunately, the IDF, and more broadly Israel, have not honoured their obligation under international humanitarian law, but, on the contrary, have only committed more human rights violations. UN News: In such circumstances, who is there to protect Palestinians and their rights? Ajith Sunghay: That's a good question. This is where, I think, the vacuum comes in. In many instances in many pockets of the West Bank as well, there is a vacuum for the protection of Palestinians. In cases of settler violence, for instance, the Palestinians are expected to go and file a complaint with the Israeli police or IDF who are inside the Israeli settlements. For me, that doesn't make any sense. When they’re attacked by the Israeli settlers, how do you expect a Palestinian to go inside an Israeli settlement, which is already quite scary for them, and go and complain? And when they have seen consistent lack of accountability, why would they do that? So, you don’t find many Palestinians going and lodging complaints. In the end, that’s what leaves a massive protection gap for Palestinians. UN News: When you are speaking of attacks or any actions by settlers, what kind of clashes are those? Ajith Sunghay: There are many. In the past, we used to see one settler attacking a herder or a Palestinian who is probably moving around. What we have seen in 2023 and moving further into 2024 is much more organised settlers attacking in groups against Palestinian towns and villages and communities. They coordinate an attack, or coordinate gatherings, and then attack a community. It can be from stones and sticks to weapons, including firearms and guns. That's where we have seen in many cases Palestinians being shot, injured and in many, many cases killed as well. But, in many cases where they have attacked the community, particularly a village or a town, we have seen shops, vehicles, houses, the entire community being burnt down. So, it has increased both in terms of intensity as well as the frequency and then the kind of attacks that we have seen over the years. UN News: You mean to say that those are not actions in response to some activity on behalf of Palestinians, but rather something which is organised, coordinated and even instigated by the settlers themselves? Ajith Sunghay: We have to remember one thing: the settlements over the years have expanded massively, which means settlements and settlers live extremely close or next to the Palestinian community. So, the constant chance of meeting each other or having friction, incidents or clashes increase. UN News: In this situation, you record all those cases and report on them. Do you also interact with Palestinian human rights defenders’ groups? Are there such groups on both sides, Israel and Palestine, and do you interact with all of them?Ajith Sunghay: We record all violations, not just settler violence, but also house evictions, house demolitions, detention, ranging from economic and social to civil and political rights. We don’t do this on our own either. One of our chief functions is to make sure that civil society space is maintained, and we work very closely with a range of organisations, both UN as well as national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs). And when we talk about national, both Palestinian as well as Israeli NGOs. We have established this network over the years.What has happened, however, over the last few years is a massive shrinking of space for different reasons and, to be honest, it also comes from all three sides: Israel, the Palestinian Authority as well as the de facto authorities. However, I think much of those restrictions come from Israel. For instance, a couple of years ago, Israel designated with no evidence, six human rights NGOs as terrorist organisations. When you do something of that sort, you will have support dwindling to these NGOs, whether we mean it or not, whether we like it or not. And that's the space we are trying to push back. We are trying to help NGOs do their job. It’s extremely important that we are there on the ground and are able to record these violations.Similarly, the Israeli NGOs have also faced such threats. For instance, when the Israeli Government threatens 65 per cent tax on any incoming funds from abroad, that was in a way to squeeze the space of Israeli NGOs. UN News: Since October, a number of Gazans have had to stay in the West Bank. What is the situation with them currently? Ajith Sunghay: When the 7 October attacks happened inside Israel, thousands of Gazan workers who were in the West Bank and Israel were all detained. No one knows the exact number. A number of them were then released through the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza. We do not have a full picture of the number who were released or of those who are still in detention. However, of those who have been detained, several of them have given us consistent accounts of being ill-treated, humiliated, sexually abused and tortured. There are many who still remain in detention.
1 of 5
Story
08 May 2024
Journey into the unknown: Thousands of Gazan families flee Rafah
Stranded, their homes demolished, loved ones killed and repeatedly displaced on their land, they had sought refuge in Rafah in the far southern reaches of the Strip to escape death and destruction and to find a safe place that does not exist.They are now heading along the coastal road again to an unknown fate with the start of military operations in the eastern areas of Rafah.UN News’s Ziad Taleb, who is in Gaza, spoke with several Palestinians who made the journey.‘Every hour we are displaced’Sobhi Massoud shared his confusion at the new developments. The elderly man has been displaced several times after all his children were killed and his property was destroyed in Jabalia camp. He finally ended up in the city of Rafah, which Israeli authorities have declared a safe zone.But, his suffering did not end there.“Every day we are displaced. Every hour we are displaced,” he said.He explained that he had been forced to flee again to the Al-Mawasi area, which lacks the most basic necessities. He pointed to his cane on which he leaned.“It’s all gone,” Mr. Massoud said. “This is the one thing that remains. I can’t even find a mattress to sleep on.”‘Fed up with life’Abu Kamal al-Yaziji, who was displaced from Gaza City in the north, said what was happening in the enclave was unprecedented.Directing his voice to the Israeli authorities, he said “this is not a self-defense operation; what you are doing is revenge.”He added that if he had the opportunity to sell his property even at half its value to send his children and grandchildren out of Gaza, he would have done so to secure their future.“I am fed up with life. There is no life in Gaza," he said."Gaza has no future. The people of Gaza have never seen such suffering. What is happening now is something we have never seen nor felt nor will see again in our lifetimes.”‘Gaza has nothing but God’Young Mohammed Salah Rajab’s journey began in the Zeitoun neighbourhood, then on to his sister’s house in Khan Younis and then to the Hay al-Salam area in Rafah.After shelling over the past few days and informing residents of the need to evacuate, he took refuge in Deir Al-Balah, which is an area adjacent to Al-Mawasi. Mr. Rajab said he does not know what awaits him now.“We don't know what our fate is,” he said. “We expected the ceasefire deal would be reached, and we would go to Gaza City, but the opposite happened. Only God knows what will happen to us.”The young Gazan hoped that his voice would reach the world outside.“Gaza has nothing but God,” he said.
1 of 5
Story
08 May 2024
Guterres urges Israel, Hamas ‘to show political courage’ and secure ceasefire
In the far south of the Gaza Strip, bordering Egypt, the town of Rafah has been hosting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians driven from elsewhere in the enclave due to the ongoing Israeli military operation.There are also grave concerns that humanitarian aid stocks are fast running out across the war-torn Strip, and fuel reserves will run out by the end of the day.“The closure of both the Rafah and Karem Shalom crossings is especially damaging to an already dire humanitarian situation. They must be re-opened immediately,” Secretary-General António Guterres said at a press stakeout at UN Headquarters in New York.He called on the Israeli Government to stop any escalation and engage constructively in the ongoing diplomatic talks.“After more than 1,100 Israelis killed in the Hamas terror attacks of 7 October, after more than 34,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, haven’t we seen enough?” Agreement essentialMr. Guterres underscored the need for an agreement between the Government of Israel and the leadership of Hamas to stop the “unbearable suffering” of both Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli hostages and their families.“It would be tragic if weeks of intense diplomatic activity for peace in Gaza, yield no ceasefire. No release of hostages. And a devastating offensive in Rafah,” he said, stressing:“I reiterate my appeal for both parties to show the political courage and spare no effort to secure an agreement now.”Human catastropheThe UN chief further emphasized that a full-scale assault on Rafah will be a “human catastrophe”.“Countless more civilian casualties. Countless more families forced to flee yet again – with nowhere safe to go. Because there is no safe place in Gaza,” Mr. Guterres said.“Attacking Rafah will further upend our efforts to support people in dire humanitarian straits as famine looms.”Call on ‘those with influence’Mr. Guterres also warned that the repercussions of an attack on Rafah will be felt far beyond the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank and the wider Middle East region.“Even the best friends of Israel are clear: An assault on Rafah would be a strategic mistake, a political calamity, and a humanitarian nightmare,” he said.“I appeal to all those with influence over Israel to do everything in their power to help avert even more tragedy.”
1 of 5
Story
06 May 2024
Targeting Rafah could lead to slaughter, warns UN aid agency
“Any ground operation would mean more suffering and death” for the 1.2 million displaced Palestinians sheltering in and around the Strip’s southernmost city, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told journalists in Geneva.Echoing those concerns, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said that “Band-Aid” contingency plans have been made in case a full-scale military incursion does indeed happen, but they will not be enough to prevent Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe from getting worse.Band-Aid plans“This contingency plan is Band-Aids. It will absolutely not prevent the expected substantial additional mortality and morbidity caused by a military operation,” said Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.Speaking via videolink from Jerusalem, the WHO medic warned that a military operation would spark a new wave of displacement, more overcrowding, less access to essential food, water and sanitation “and definitely more outbreaks (of disease)”.“The ailing health system will not be able to withstand the potential scale of devastation that the incursion will cause,” Dr. Peeperkorn said.The worsening security situation could also severely impede the movement of food, water and medical supplies into and across Gaza via the border points, the WHO official noted.After nearly seven months of heavy Israeli bombardment sparked by Hamas-led terror attacks on southern Israel on 7 October, only 12 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza and 22 of the enclave’s 88 primary health care facilities are “partially functional” today, according to the UN health agency.Dialysis under threatThese include Najjar Hospital in Rafah, which offers dialysis treatment to hundreds of people, explained Dr. Ahmed Dahir, WHO team leader in Gaza.“The health system is barely surviving…if any (Israeli) operation will happen, which means the population and patients will not be able to access these hospitals, what is going to happen to these patients, ultimately that would be a catastrophe.”Despite “a slight improvement” in the availability and diversity of food in Gaza in recent weeks, Dr. Peeperkorn rejected any suggestion that the looming threat of acute malnutrition had receded for the enclave’s most vulnerable.“We will see the effects for years to come,” the WHO official continued, noting that 30 children have now reportedly died because of illnesses linked to malnutrition.Deaths linked to the kind of food insecurity that Gazans have endured should have been completely preventable, Dr. Peeperkorn said, pointing to the widespread destruction of poultry farming and fishing production along with vegetable and fruit growing, which are “not there anymore.""We should never have any level of malnutrition in this place,” he insisted.As part of UN contingency efforts, WHO and partners are setting up a new field hospital in Al Mawasi in Rafah. Supply linesA large warehouse has also been created in the central city of Deir Al-Balah from where WHO has moved supplies to Khan Younis, the Middle Area and northern Gaza. Further supplies have also been prepositioned at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah and the European Gaza Hospital near Khan Younis in the south. Also in Khan Younis, Nasser Medical Complex is being refurbished to provide “a basic package of health services”, now that cleaning and inspection of essential equipment have been completed. Nine out of 10 operating theatres are operational and emergency medical teams are preparing to work there alongside national staff, WHO said. Prepositioning keyWHO and partners are also establishing additional primary health centres and medical points in Khan Younis and the Middle Area as well as prepositioning medical supplies to enable these facilities to detect and treat communicable and non-communicable diseases and manage wounds.In the north, the UN health agency is helping to increase services at Al-Ahli, Kamal Adwan and Al-Awda hospitals with emergency medical teams and by prepositioning supplies. “Plans are also being developed to support the restoration of the Patients’ Friendly Hospital, focusing on paediatric services, and expansion of primary health care centres and medical points,” WHO reported.
1 of 5
Story
03 May 2024
10,000 people feared buried under the rubble in Gaza
UN humanitarians said, citing the enclave’s health authorities. “It could take up to three years to retrieve the bodies using the primitive tools they have on hand,” the UN Aid Coordination Office, OCHA, said, amid rising temperatures that will accelerate the decomposition of bodies, potentially increasing the threat of disease spreading.Citing the Palestinian Civil Defence Authority, OCHA said that the recovery of dead bodies from the debris is a huge challenge, owing to a lack of bulldozers, excavators and personnel. Entire neighbourhoods have been levelled amid intense and ongoing Israeli bombardment “across much of the Gaza Strip” from the air, land and sea, the UN aid office noted.‘Nightmare’ must end: UNICEF chiefIn a call for an end to the hostilities, sparked by Hamas-led terror raids on southern Israel on 7 October that killed some 1,250 people and saw more than 250 taken hostage, top UN humanitarian official Catherine Russell insisted that the “nightmare” must end.Nearly all of the 600,000 children now sheltering in the southern border city of Rafah are “injured, sick or malnourished”, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) chief said in a video post on X on Wednesday.“Over 200 days of war have already killed and maimed tens of thousands of children in Gaza,” Ms. Russell added, amid deepening fears of a full-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah.1,000-pound bombs Following the withdrawal of Israeli troops last month from the southern city of Khan Younis, a UN assessment team mission on 10 April reported that streets and public spaces were littered with unexploded weapons. In addition, 1,000-pound bombs were found “lying on main intersections and inside schools".UN-led efforts are ongoing to make areas safe for Gazans to return to Khan Younis, including damage assessments at facilities belonging to the UN refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) and mapping high-risk areas containing shrapnel and unexploded ordnance.Another vital aspect of this work is awareness-raising sessions, which the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) conducts via social media, mobile phone text messages and leaflets to around 1.2 million people in Gaza, as part of aid packages distributed by other humanitarian partners.In total there is an estimated 37 million tonnes of debris in the enclave which likely contains about 800,000 tonnes of asbestos and other contaminants.UN mine action experts have estimated that some 7,500 tonnes of unexploded ordnance could be “scattered” throughout Gaza which could take up to 14 years to clear. To mitigate the risk for civilians and aid teams in the meantime, the UN Mine Action Service, UNMAS, has issued increasingly urgent appeals for assistance from the international community to remove explosive remnants of war.Rising tollBetween 29 April 1 May, OCHA reported that 80 Palestinians were killed and 118 injured amid Israeli bombardment, citing the Gazan health authorities. The same source has reported that since 7 October, at least 34,560 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and 77,765 injured.This includes a strike on 29 April “at about 12:25pm” when two Palestinian women and two girls were reportedly killed and others injured when a house was hit in Tall As Sultan neighbourhood in western Rafah.OCHA also reported that between 28 April and 1 May, two Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza, according to the Israeli military. As of 1 May, 262 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,602 soldiers injured in Gaza since the beginning of the ground operation.
1 of 5
Story
02 May 2024
Gaza destruction impossible to even process, UN humanitarian says
We have a group of incredible colleagues who have still been going to work every day... Many of them have lost more than you can imagine.That’s the message from Louise Wateridge, Communications Officer with the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, who is stationed in the southern city of Rafah.Ms. Wateridge had worked with UNRWA before and recently returned to the region and was shocked by what she saw on a visit to Gaza City, a place she knows well.Unbelievable devastation “It didn’t feel real seeing out of every single window in the car, as far as you could see was just destruction,” she told UN News. Ms. Wateridge has been using her mobile phone to document the devastation in places such as Khan Younis, where she visited an abandoned UNRWA school-turned-shelter that once housed tens of thousands of displaced people who hastily fled the facility ahead of Israeli bombardment. “It was devastating to see unmarked graves, even in the corner of our facility in the Khan Younis Training Centre,” she said. “On the wall above one of the children's graves there was a message saying ‘Marwa, your sister misses you and loves you.’” This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Louise Wateridge: Over the last couple of days I've been to Gaza City and Jabalia camp, and also in Khan Younis. I've worked in the region for the last four years, so it's my first time being here since the war began and it's just unbelievable to see Gaza City. We went with the World Food Programme (WFP) on a joint mission to the Jabalia camp. The agencies are working very closely in the north to try to expand food distribution there. But the drive up was absolutely shocking for me. Just this city that I've known for years, and seeing everything around you just completely flattened. There were homes because you could see where they were still standing. There were walls missing, and you could see into the living rooms, into the dining rooms. It's like there was life there. You can very clearly see life there - pictures on the wall, clothes kind of around the room - but there's nobody in there. It was a very haunting, shocking experience. You referenced the video I took. I was sitting in the front of the car. Everywhere I was looking there was destruction. Your mind can't even process that it's real to see that much devastation in front of you. But then as we went to Jabalia, the markets kind of pick up and you see more people around. The really good news from our trip is it appears that within the last few weeks, there's been a lot more commercial food on the market, so there were a lot more people at the markets. My colleagues who have been here a lot longer than I have were explaining that two or three weeks ago, it was a very different place. People were very, very hungry; very scared. There was not a lot available in the market, whereas when we went this weekend, it was very positive to see that that had somewhat shifted. The agencies are going to continue to work together, UNRWA and WFP, to make sure that people in the north do have the food that they need after all of this time. UN News: Was UNRWA able to provide any assistance during this trip to Jabalia? Louise Wateridge: The trip was more of an assessment to review the facilities that UNRWA has. 165 facilities across the Gaza Strip have been attacked or damaged, so we really need some space and some warehouse and distribution areas that we can offload the food and then distribute to the community. So, this trip was an assessment of those facilities to see where we could restore, where we could start using again. There was one warehouse that had bullet holes throughout the roof and some of them had walls missing, so they really are in a very bad way, and they've been very severely damaged. We also visited our colleagues. I was with the Director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, Scott Anderson, and he was talking to and meeting with our colleagues in the north in Jabalia who have been running the health services throughout the whole duration of the war. We have a group of incredible colleagues who have still been going to work every day. They themselves are displaced. I spoke to some of the women in the group and it's devastating. They've all lost something. Many of them have lost more than you can imagine. And they talk about how they have homes now without walls that they're still living in. They really have gone a very long time without food. They discuss the struggles they've had with going to work and serving the community, and then going home to their children in the evening, trying to put food on the table while they're still at work all the time. UN News: Do they feel a little safer now? Louise Wateridge: I don't think anyone feels safe. No, not at all. There was a feeling of slight relief that there was more food available. Even just seeing UNRWA and WFP working together in the north, they were very hopeful for this opportunity that these two organizations will expand the food distribution in the area. But they're tired. They're very tired. They're very scared. They've been through more than we could imagine the last six-and-a-half months. And they are very scared of what tomorrow brings. They are very scared if more military action will happen. They're scared if they'll be displaced again. They're scared of the nights. They explained that they get home with their children and how their children feel at home; the way they sleep together and huddle together in fear. There's just no safety here. No one feels safe. UN News: Tell us about your trip to Khan Younis. Louise Wateridge: We went to Khan Younis on a joint mission with the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to sweep the area and assess the area for any potential shrapnel, any potential unexploded ordnance in the UNRWA facilities there. It was devastating to see the facilities that we visited – a training centre, health clinic and two schools. I know all of these facilities from before the war, so it was completely devastating to see the condition that they were in now. And the thing that really shocked me the most was it was very evident how quickly people had fled these facilities. We're talking about four huge UNRWA compounds. There were tens of thousands of people sheltering in these UNRWA facilities, and almost overnight they had to evacuate. There was an Israeli forces’ warning to evacuate Khan Younis and evacuate these UNRWA facilities. Walking around, there were shoes, children's shoes – one here, one there; toothbrushes, hairbrushes, clothes, socks. You could see kind of half-eaten food. And it just seemed that everything had been abandoned very, very quickly. Nobody had the luxury to pack up even what they had there, and it's not like they had an abundance of things with them at this point. And yet, there was still so much left behind. Some of our colleagues in the training centre were sharing their experiences of this situation, saying how terrified they were then, how terrifying it was for everyone sheltering there. They really had to evacuate within a matter of hours. It was devastating to see unmarked graves, even in the corner of our facility in the Khan Younis Training Centre. There were some graves for children. On the wall above one of the children's graves there was a message saying “Marwa, your sister misses you and loves you.” You cannot believe it's a UN facility. You cannot believe that this is a place that people thought they were safe. Walls of the perimeter were completely knocked down. Bullet holes throughout every room, almost every classroom. There was clear damage to the roof that had come through. So, the whole experience in Khan Younis was devastating, really beyond devastating. UN News: I would like to ask you about our colleague Abdullah, the photojournalist who survived the bombardment in the north but had to have his legs amputated. Could you tell us more about his condition? Louise Wateridge: We had some really good news this week that our colleague Abdullah was medically evacuated out of Gaza and is now in Doha, so we're absolutely thrilled. Everyone at UNRWA is so relieved that he and his family are no longer in Gaza. I saw Abdullah on Tuesday, alongside some colleagues who had been visiting him regularly at a field hospital in Rafah. He needed further surgery that wasn't possible in Gaza City due to the facility he was in and the medical supplies that were available, so we're very relieved that he will now be able to receive this treatment. It's been a horrific journey for Abdullah. He was taken to Al-Shifa hospital where he initially received treatment. This hospital was then under siege by Israeli forces for two weeks, and Abdullah was inside for the whole duration. We cannot imagine what Abdullah has been through, and we're all just very relieved and very thankful that he is now getting the treatment that he needs. UN News: Finally, in the beginning of the interview, you said that this is not your first time in Gaza. What comes to mind when you see all of this devastation and reflect on your previous experiences? And what's your message? Louise Wateridge: Gaza to me has always been a wonderful place to work. The colleagues here are some of the best I've ever worked with, not just with UNRWA but anywhere in the world. I feel so privileged to have these colleagues and friends in my life and it's just appalling to see the lives that they are now living. I think for everyone, it's like their life ended and then something else has begun. My colleague Hussein was showing me pictures and videos of his new apartment that he was moving into at the beginning of October. He showed me a video of the building today and it's completely destroyed. Everyone has the same story where they're now sleeping under plastic sheeting; they’re crammed into rooms with all of their family and neighbours. Nobody knows what's coming next. Everybody is visibly tired. I know so many familiar faces here but they all look so different after the last six and a half months. You can just see the suffering a lot of people have been through. They've lost a lot of weight, collectively. Everybody has changed so significantly in what is quite a short amount of time. But they're all wearing this war. And I think the biggest problem is they just don't know what tomorrow brings. There’s a lot of fear for their children. Every day, people wonder if a ceasefire is coming. And that's what everyone's hanging on to.
1 of 5
Story
01 May 2024
Guterres calls on Israel and Hamas to end Gaza war
“For the sake of the people of Gaza, for the sake of the hostages and their families in Israel and for the sake of the region and the wider world, I strongly encourage the Government of Israel and the Hamas leadership to reach now an agreement,” he said, speaking to journalists in New York.Mr. Guterres expressed fear that without an agreement, “the war, with all its consequences both in Gaza and across the region, will worsen exponentially”.Prevent Rafah escalation Nearly seven months have passed since the brutal Hamas-led attacks on Israel which sparked the current hostilities. Recent weeks have seen airstrikes on the Rafah area in southern Gaza, where more than 1.2 million people are now sheltering with limited access to food, medical care and other services and with nowhere safe to go. Mr. Guterres said a military assault there “would be an unbearable escalation, killing thousands more civilians and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee”. Furthermore, it would have a devastating impact on Palestinians in Gaza, with serious repercussions in the occupied West Bank and across the wider region.“All members of the Security Council, and many other governments, have clearly expressed their opposition to such an operation. I appeal for all those with influence over Israel to do everything in their power to prevent it,” he said. Avert ‘human-made famine’ Turning to the north, where vulnerable people are already dying of hunger and disease, he urged the international community to “do everything possible to avert an entirely preventable human-made famine”.Although incremental progress has been made, much more is urgently needed, including the promised opening of two crossing points between Israel and northern Gaza, so that aid can be brought in from Ashdod Port and Jordan.Lack of security is a major obstacle to distributing aid across Gaza, and he stressed that humanitarian convoys, facilities and personnel as well as people in need “must not be targets”. “We welcome aid delivery by air and sea, but there is no alternative to the massive use of land routes,” he said, before again calling on Israel to allow and facilitate safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza, including for the UN’s Palestine relief agency, UNRWA. Health system ‘decimated’ Mr. Guterres also addressed how the war has “decimated” the health system in the enclave, where two thirds of hospitals and health centres are out of commission, while many of those remaining are seriously damaged. “Some hospitals now resemble cemeteries,” he said, voicing deep alarm over reports of the discovery of mass graves at several locations, including at Al-Shifa and Nasser hospitals.Mass graves and accountability More than 390 bodies reportedly have been exhumed at Nasser Hospital alone, and “there are competing narratives around several of these mass graves, including serious allegations that some of those buried were unlawfully killed,” he added.The UN chief said it is imperative that independent international forensic investigators are allowed immediate access to these sites to determine the precise circumstances under which hundreds of Palestinians lost their lives and were buried or reburied.“The families of the dead and missing have a right to know what happened, and the world has a right to accountability for any violations of international law that may have taken place,” he said.Praise for UNRWAThe Secretary-General ended his remarks by drawing attention to UNRWA and its “irreplaceable and indispensable work” supporting millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.“UNRWA’s presence across the region is a source of hope and stability. Its education, healthcare and other services provide a sense of normality, safety and stability to desperate communities,” he said.The agency recently appealed for $1.2 billion to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to respond to needs in the West Bank, where violence is rising.UNRWA largely depends on donors and some 16 countries halted their contributions earlier this year following Israeli allegations that 12 staff were involved in the 7 October attacks. The UN appointed an independent body to review the agency's efforts to ensure the humanitarian principle of neutrality. The panel, headed by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, recently published its report which found that “the set of rules and the mechanisms and procedures in place [at UNRWA] are the most elaborate within the UN system”.Mr. Guterres said an action plan is being put in place to implement the report’s recommendations, and he appealed for cooperation from donors, host countries and staff.Step up supportMeanwhile, most countries that suspended contributions to UNRWA have resumed them, and the Secretary-General said “we are optimistic that others will join.” Additionally, some UN Member States have given to the agency for the first time, while private donors have also provided support.However, as a funding gap persists, he urged Member States and donors to pledge generously to ensure the agency’s work continues. “This is the moment to reaffirm our hope for and contributions to a two-State solution – the only sustainable path to peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider region,” he concluded.
1 of 5
Press Release
10 May 2024
Statement by the UN Country Team in Palestine on the attack against the UNRWA office in East Jerusalem
It is unacceptable that a UN agency is forced to close its offices due to insecurity, with UN staff physically and verbally threatened while UN property is vandalised. The Hague Regulations of 1907 (article 43), the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 (article 59), and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 1946 (article 2), as well as customary international law, clearly outline that it is the responsibility of the host Government and the occupying power of OPT to ensure that United Nations personnel and facilities are protected at all times.This is not an attack on UNRWA alone, but an assault on the entire UN system operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The UN in Palestine demands accountability for these acts, for immediate intervention by law enforcement should similar incidents occur in the future, and for Member States to recognise the longer-term consequences these attacks on the UN will have. We must not allow the failure to respect UN facilities to become the new normal.
1 of 5
Press Release
03 May 2024
Palestinian journalists covering Gaza awarded 2024 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
“In these times of darkness and hopelessness, we wish to share a strong message of solidarity and recognition to those Palestinian journalists who are covering this crisis in such dramatic circumstances. As humanity, we have a huge debt to their courage and commitment to freedom of expression.” Mauricio Weibel, Chair of the International Jury of media professionals“Each year, the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Prize pays tribute to the courage of journalists facing difficult and dangerous circumstances. Once again this year, the Prize reminds us of the importance of collective action to ensure that journalists around the world can continue to carry out their essential work to inform and investigate.” Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-GeneralThe ongoing conflict in Gaza is having grave consequences for journalists. Since 7 October 2023, UNESCO has condemned and deplored the deaths of 26 journalists and media workers in the line of work, based upon information from its international NGO partners. The Organization is reviewing dozens of other cases.UNESCO supporting journalists in conflict worldwideUNESCO is supporting journalists reporting from conflict and crisis zones. The Organization is distributing essential supplies to journalists in Gaza, and has established safe working spaces and provided emergency grants for journalists in Ukraine and Sudan. UNESCO is also giving protective equipment and training to journalists in Haiti, and supporting independent media in Afghanistan.More broadly, UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, training and by coordinating the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. About the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize Created in 1997, the annual UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize honours an outstanding contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger. It is the only such prize awarded to journalists within the UN System. It is named for Guillermo Cano Isaza, the Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper El Espectador in Bogotá, Colombia, on 17 December 1986, and funded by the Guillermo Cano Isaza Foundation (Colombia), the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation (Finland), the Namibia Media Trust, Democracy & Media Foundation Stichting Democratie & Media (The Netherlands), and the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
1 of 5
Press Release
01 May 2024
Launching of the Sawasya III joint programme in the state of Palestine
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP PAPP), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and UNICEF, in partnership with the Palestinian Government, have officially launched Phase III of the Sawasya Joint Programme during its annual Programme Steering Committee Meeting today in Ramallah. The Steering Committee Meeting of the Sawasya III Joint Programme was held jointly under the Co-Chair Chief Justice H.E. Judge Mohammad Al-Oweiwi Co- and Co-Chair of the UNDP/UN Women/UNICEF Joint Programme’s Steering Committee, UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Muhannad Hadi.The steering committee meeting was attended by the Minister of Justice Mr Sharhabeel Zayeem, Supreme Judge H.E Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Minister of Social Development Ms Samah Hamad (PhD), and the Attorney General H.E Akram Al-Khatib as well as the Sawasya Programme respected donors namely the Government of the Netherlands, the Spanish Cooperation for Development, the European Union, the Government of Canada, as well as Sweden as an observer. In addition to implementing representatives from UNDP, UN Women and UNICEF.Phase III of the Sawasya Joint Programme, a five-year programme is designed to reinforce equal access to justice for all Palestinians, particularly focusing on vulnerable groups. The programme is supported by the Government of the Netherlands and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, the European Union, and the Government of Canada, while Sweden remains an observer of the programme for the time being. Building upon the successes of previous phases, Sawasya III seeks to establish a progressively inclusive Palestinian rule of law system, accelerating access to justice within a protective, inclusive, and responsive framework.In 2023, the Palestinian national partners including civil society organizations led significant advancements in justice and human rights in Palestine through Sawasya II. Emphasizing community-based legal aid, the programme witnessed a notable transformation in delivering legal awareness services. This was embodied by 15 local lawyers joining MENA’s first legal incubator in Gaza, where they successfully handled 70 pro-bono cases. Moreover, Sawasya II played a pivotal role in providing crucial legal consultation and representation to more than 11,611 Palestinians, with a notable 75 per cent women and 6 per cent children. Furthermore, enhancements to the Mizan 2 electronic case management system were implemented, significantly improving access to electronic court services.The Sawasya III Joint Programme Annual Work Plan for the year 2024 was endorsed and approved during the launching ceremony by members of the steering committee.
1 of 5
Press Release
06 April 2024
Statement by the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Mr. Jamie McGoldrick
Nearly 2 million people have been forced to flee their homes, many of them multiple times. Half of all people in Gaza are at risk of imminent famine, and child malnutrition has reached levels never before seen in Gaza.The situation is simply catastrophic.In recent days, Israel has acknowledged the immense scale of suffering in Gaza and its ability to facilitate the increase of humanitarian assistance to people in need. This is a welcome development, notably the several commitments that Israel has made in response to our repeated requests:A better functioning coordination cell will be established that links humanitarians directly with the IDF Southern Command.Plans to open Erez Crossing temporarily to move much needed food, water and sanitation items, shelter and health materials from Ashdod port.Plans to increase the number of trucks entering through the Allenby Bridge crossing towards Gaza from 25 to at least 50 per day.Intent to expand operating hours of Kerem Shalom and Nitsana crossings, while anticipating an increase in the number of trucks scanned by an additional 100 trucks per day.Deployment of additional scanner and staff capacity at Kerem Shalom crossing to accelerate the transfer of aid into Gaza.Assurance for approvals to activate 20 bakeries in North Gaza.Approval for the Nahal Oz water line in North Gaza to restart.As I have stated previously, the humanitarian community is prepared to scale-up assistance in Gaza, but this requires better security, greater access, and more reliable facilitation from Israeli authorities.We stand ready to work with all parties to alleviate the suffering of people in Gaza.
1 of 5
Press Release
03 April 2024
Joint World Bank and UN Report Assesses Damage to Gaza’s Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, March 28, 2024 – The cost of damage to critical infrastructure in Gaza is estimated at around $18.5 billion according to a new report released today by the World Bank Group and the United Nations, with the financial support of the European Union. That is equivalent to 97% of the combined GDP of the West Bank and Gaza in 2022. The Interim Damage Assessment report used remote data collection sources to measure damage to physical infrastructure in critical sectors incurred between October 2023 and end of January 2024. The report finds that damage to structures affects every sector of the economy. Housing alone accounts for 73% of the identified cost. Public service infrastructure such as water, health and education account for 18%, and damages to commercial and industrial buildings account for 9%. For several sectors, the rate of damage appears to be leveling off as few assets remain intact. An estimated 26 million tons of debris and rubble have been left in the wake of the destruction, an amount that will take years to remove. The report also looks at the devastating impact on the people of Gaza. More than half the population of Gaza is on the brink of famine and the entire population is experiencing acute food insecurity and malnutrition. Over a million people have been left without homes and 75% of the population is displaced. The severe cumulative impacts on physical and mental health have hit women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities the hardest, with the youngest children facing life-long consequences to their development. With 84% of health facilities damaged or destroyed, and a lack of electricity and water to operate remaining facilities, people have minimal access to health care, medicine, or life-saving treatments. The water and sanitation system has nearly collapsed, delivering less than 5% of its previous output, with people dependent on limited water rations for survival. The education system has completely collapsed, with 100% of children out of school. The report also points to the impact on power networks as well as solar generated systems and the almost total power blackout since the first week of the conflict. This has had widespread effect on day-to-day life in Gaza. With 92% of primary roads destroyed or damaged and the communications infrastructure seriously impaired, the delivery of basic humanitarian aid to people has become all the more difficult. __________________________________________________________________________________About the Gaza Interim Damage Assessment Report The Gaza Interim Damage Assessment report provides a preliminary estimate of the impact of the on-going conflict in the Gaza Strip up to the end of January 2024. This technical report draws on remote data collection sources and analytics to provide a preliminary estimate of damages to physical structures in Gaza from the conflict. The estimate does not include the economic and social losses nor the financing needs for recovery and reconstruction the cost of which is expected to be multiple times higher based on experience in post-disaster and post-conflict settings. A comprehensive Rapid Damage & Needs Assessment (RDNA) will be completed as soon as the situation allows and in which the total amount of damages, losses and needs are expected to rise exponentially. RDNAs follow a globally recognized methodology that has been applied in multiple contexts to inform recovery and reconstruction planning.
Media Contacts: World Bank Group In West Bank: Mary Koussa - (972) 2-2366500; mkoussa@worldbank.org In Washington: Serene Jweied - (202) 473-8764; sjweied@worldbank.org United Nations In West Bank: Murad Bakri – (972) 2-5687287; bakri1@un.org
Media Contacts: World Bank Group In West Bank: Mary Koussa - (972) 2-2366500; mkoussa@worldbank.org In Washington: Serene Jweied - (202) 473-8764; sjweied@worldbank.org United Nations In West Bank: Murad Bakri – (972) 2-5687287; bakri1@un.org
1 of 5
Latest Resources
1 / 11
Resources
20 September 2022
Resources
25 November 2021
1 / 11