note internally displaced persons = (IDPs)
https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/unrwa-situation-report-103-situation-gaza-strip-and-west-bank-including-east-JerusalemUNRWA Situation Report #103 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem
GAZAIsraeli Security Forced (ISF) operations from air, land and sea continue across the Gaza Strip. On 11 April, ISF announced that a ground operation had begun in central Gaza. ISF operations continue to cause civilian casualties, displacement and destruction of houses and other civilian infrastructure. According to Save the Children and the World Health Organization, the rate of attacks per month on healthcare in Gaza is higher than in any other recent conflict globally. There have been at least 435 attacks on health facilities or personnel across Gaza in the last six months, equivalent to 73 attacks every month since the war began on 7 October. Aid missions to the north continue to be denied by Israel Authorities, between 1 and 19 April, 15 per cent (27 out of 181) of aid missions to northern Gaza and areas in southern Gaza that require coordination have been denied or impeded by Israeli Authorities. The last time UNRWA was able to deliver food supplies to the area was on 23 January 2024; however, UNRWA remains critical in both the northern and southern response, with key distributions of food and non-food items such as medicines occurring in UNRWA installations such as health centres, emergency shelters and distribution centres. The destruction of waste management installations and medical waste disposal centres severely restricts the collection and disposal of solid waste management. In January and February, UNRWA and U
- NDP collected 10,000 tons of solid waste. Over 270,000 tons of solid waste across the entirety of the Gaza Strip remains uncollected.
- There has been very little significant change in the volume of humanitarian supplies entering Gaza or improved access to the north. Since the beginning of April, an average of 186 aid trucks have crossed into Gaza per day via the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Rafah land crossings. This remains well below the operational capacity of both border crossings and the minimum target of 500 trucks per day.
- As of 21 April, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is 180, an increase of two.
- As of 21 April, up to 1.7 million* people (over 75 per cent of the population)** have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, the majority 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 weeks, a significant number of displaced people have moved further south.
*This includes 1 million people living in or near emergency shelters or informal shelters. As of 12 October, approximately 160,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded in UNRWA shelters in Northern Gaza and Gaza City governorates. UNRWA currently estimates that the population of Northern Gaza and Gaza City governorates is up to 300,000 people. 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 ISF, and the constant need for safer locations have resulted in people being displaced multiple times.
**UNRWA reported on 15 January 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.
WEST BANK
- Between 15 and 21 April there were more than 195 ISF operations reported across the West Bank, with at least 21 Palestinians killed during this period. Of these fatalities, two were children.
- A large-scale ISF operation commenced on 18 April in Nur Shams Camp in the northern West Bank, lasting approximately 50 hours and concluding on 20 April with significant casualties and massive damage sustained, including to UNRWA facilities. At least 14 Palestinians, including Palestine refugees, were killed during the course of the operation, with 25 reported injuries and eight Palestinians detained. Anti-tank missiles and armoured bulldozers were deployed by ISF during the operation, with Palestinian armed groups detonating improvised explosive devices. Widespread damage to private property as well as camp infrastructure was reported, with water, electricity and internet both cut. Ambulance access to Nur Shams camp was severely hampered during the operation, and a Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulance was allegedly fired upon. ISF also reportedly blocked routes to the hospital in Tulkarm and temporarily held several paramedics.
- In a separate incident on 20 April a Palestinian Red Crescent Society paramedic was reportedly shot dead by Israeli settlers who opened fire on an ambulance transporting injured Palestinians following settler violence in the town of As Sawiya, in the northern West Bank. Settler violence continued across the West Bank, with violent confrontations also reported in Burka, in the central West Bank, where six Palestinians were injured in clashes with settlers and ISF on 21 April.
Overall Situation
The Gaza Strip
- According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza as of 19 April, at least 34,012 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 76,833 Palestinians have been reportedly injured.
The West Bank, including East Jerusalem
- According to OCHA, between 7 October 2023– 17 April 2024, 451 Palestinians, including at least 112 children, have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Humanitarian Access, Protection of Civilians
The Gaza Strip
- All information remains the same as per last update.
- UNRWA is working to verify the details of incidents reportedly affecting UNRWA premises. Further information will be provided once it becomes available.
- 360* 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 50 incidents of military use and/or interference at UNRWA premises. 164 different UNRWA installations have been impacted.
- UNRWA estimates that in total at least 428* internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltering in UNRWA shelters have been killed and at least a further 1,430* 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.
