Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel Flash Update #20

“Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)

Water supply through the Middle Area network, Khan Younis, and Rafah has shown temporary improvement for the second consecutive day, after UNRWA and UNICEF managed to deliver an additional 25,000 liters of fuel to crucial water facilities, sourced from their reserves within Gaza. However, unless additional fuel is delivered to these facilities, operations will be halted again soon. 

In this context, two seawater desalination plants in the Middle Area and Khan Younis continue limited operations, pumping about 4,000 cubic metres of drinking water per day through the network, representing 30 per cent of their full capacity (the third seawater desalination plant in northern Gaza remains closed). Furthermore, the supply of piped water to other areas in the south, primarily brackish water, was made possible by the operation of 120 water wells and 20 pumping stations, which also received limited amounts of fuel. This has benefitted only those households with undamaged water connections. 

Additionally, after water supply by Israel to the Khan Younis area reduced in previous days by 60-80 per cent, on 25 October, this supply resumed at the previous level of 600 cubic metres per hour. This too, has contributed to the availability of piped water in some households. Meanwhile, water supply through two other pipelines from Israel is suspended since 8 October. 

On the other hand, a leakage of about 70 percent was identified in one of the main pipelines between Rafah and Khan Younis, due to the damage it had sustained. This has compelled water providers to halt distribution to the network to a large area, and resort to less efficient and limited water trucking. 

Out of the 74 trucks that have entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing since October 21, eleven carried at least 4,000 water jerry cans (10 litres each), 4,500 family hygiene kits, and 12 community water storage tanks procured by UNICEF. These supplies have been distributed to UNRWA DES. “

Read the full report: Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #20

Displaced children queueing for water in a UN shelter in Gaza. Photo by UNRWA

Statement by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Statement by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lynn Hastings, on the protection of all civilians in Gaza

Jerusalem, 26 October 2023

The IDF continues to notify people in Gaza City that those who stay in their homes will put themselves in danger. In some cases, the notification urges people to go to a humanitarian area in Al Mawasi.  While the United Nations is aware of references to a “humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi”, the United Nations intends to deliver aid wherever people in need are located.

For people who can’t evacuate – because they have nowhere to go or are unable to move – advance warnings make no difference. When the evacuation routes are bombed, when people north as well as south are caught up in hostilities, when the essentials for survival are lacking, and when there are no assurances for return, people are left with nothing but impossible choices. Nowhere is safe in Gaza.

The conduct of armed conflict, anywhere, is governed by international humanitarian law. This means that civilians must be protected and have the essentials to survive, wherever they are and whether they choose to move or stay. 

It also means that hostages – all hostages – must be released, immediately and unconditionally. 

Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel Flash Update #19 (Oct 25)

Water supply through the network in areas south of Wadi Gaza has temporarily improved. This happened after UNRWA and UNICEF managed to deliver small quantities of fuel they had retrieved from their existing reserves to key facilities. However, the available fuel in these facilities will be exhausted by 26 October and supply of piped water is expected to cease again.

and…

GAZA HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW

Hostilities and casualties

The past 24 hours recorded the most intense Israeli bombardment and airstrikes since the escalations began, with the highest number of fatalities in Gaza since the start of the hostilities, as reported by MoH in Gaza. One of the deadliest attacks reported during this period involved the destruction of the At Taj residential building in Gaza city, where 40 people were reportedly killed. According to the Israeli military, many of the airstrikes carried out overnight in the city targeted underground military facilities.

Since 7 October, 6,547 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 2,704 children and 1,292 women, and about 17,439 have been injured, according to the MoH in Gaza. Some 68 per cent of the total number of Palestinian fatalities were reported in Gaza city and North Gaza governorates.

Additionally, about 1,600 people, including at least 900 children, have been reported missing and may be trapped or dead under the rubble, awaiting rescue or recovery. Rescue teams, primarily from the Palestinian Civil Defense, are struggling to carry out their mission, amid continuous airstrikes, severe shortage of fuel to run vehicles and equipment, and with limited or no connection to mobile networks.

According to the MoH in Gaza, as of 25 October, 149 Palestinian families had lost ten or more of their members, 123 Palestinian families had lost 6 to 9 members, and 416 families had lost two to five of their members.

Read the full report from the U.N. National Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid

Internally displaced persons staying in tents in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo by UNRWA. 19 October 2023