UNICEF in the State of Palestine Escalation Humanitarian Situation Report No.23

Highlights

• Over 87 per cent of all school buildings in the Gaza Strip have been damaged or destroyed, as per Education Cluster estimates. All schools have been closed for 625,000 students for six months. Every university in Gaza has been destroyed.
• UNICEF with partners has screened 43,300 children aged 6-59 months for malnutrition. Of those, 2,900 children were identified with acute malnutrition, who now receive treatment with the support of UNICEF. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) projected that 1.1 million people face catastrophic levels of hunger (IPC Phase 5) and are at risk of famine in the Gaza Strip, the highest number of people ever recorded in this category by the IPC system.
• A UNICEF convoy came under fire while on the way to northern Gaza to deliver life-saving aid, including therapeutic food for children at risk of malnutrition and preventable mortality.
• Up to 6,000 Adolescent Girls’ Personal Care packages distributed by UNICEF partners, which include e.g., sanitary pads, underwear, a scarf, and a whistle.
• UNICEF has moved 81 trucks into the Gaza Strip in the past two weeks with new critical emergency supplies, including 15,000 packages of high energy biscuits, 3,700 cartons of ready-to-use therapeutic food, 25,400 sanitary items, 12,500 hygiene kits, 3,100 Adolescent Girls’ Personal Care packages, 6,000 plastic tarpaulins, and 1,300 sets of clothing.
• In the West Bank, UNICEF provided essential child protection services, including psychosocial first aid, MHPSS, and legal services to 1,202 people, including 797 children (132 girls) and 405 caregivers (239 women).

Situation reports are the main reporting tool to monitor UNICEF’s humanitarian response. They provide an update on the situation and needs of children in a country or region, as well as information on UNICEF’s response and funding requirements.