Gaza: A report by United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) revealed that approximately 475 children per month have suffered disabilities that may last a lifetime due to the use of explosive weapons by the Israeli occupation during its ongoing assault on Gaza since October 7, 2023.
According to Qatar News Agency, based on an analysis published by Save the Children, an average of 15 children per day in Gaza were disabled by explosive weapons used by Israeli forces in 2024. The report emphasizes that the fuel crisis remains a serious threat to the delivery of essential humanitarian operations in Gaza. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, all partially operating hospitals have exhausted their fuel reserves and now rely on daily fuel deliveries from partners to maintain critical services.
In northern Gaza, the Israeli forces conducted a continuous ground assault with an intensified siege for over 100 days, amid near-total disruption of humanitarian aid. Communication and internet access remain severely restricted. The report indicates that some areas of northern Gaza have been under heavy siege for over three months, making access to these areas extremely difficult. Despite ongoing efforts by humanitarian partners to deliver aid, Israeli forces have significantly obstructed these efforts.
The report highlights that thousands of people are left without access to food, water, electricity, or healthcare, while the strip continues to witness mass casualties. It also reports that, between November 4 and December 16, 2024, a survey of 565 displacement sites in Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis revealed that 75% of these sites did not receive any humanitarian aid, and 87% lacked adequate food supplies. Over half of the sites (51%) had insufficient access to drinking water, and 82% of sites were unable to access health facilities.
The report also noted that tens of thousands of families are still living in at least 80 shelters operated by UNRWA, and on January 12, Israeli forces issued evacuation orders affecting Nusirat area, where three UNRWA facilities are located, and 14 other facilities are in close proximity. As of January 14, around 80.5% of Gaza is under evacuation orders issued by Israeli military.
The report further states that at least 1.9 million people, or approximately 90% of Gaza’s population, are displaced, with many facing repeated displacements, some as many as 10 times or more.
The report also outlines significant challenges in gathering essential humanitarian supplies at Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza, including deterioration of law and order, ongoing conflict, and damaged infrastructure.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s assault on Gaza, by land, sea, and air, has resulted in the deaths of 46,788 Palestinians and the injury of 110,453 others. Thousands of victims remain trapped under rubble and in the streets, with rescue crews unable to reach them.
