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Gaza Situation - Report 7

24 hour reports by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)

Due to the dramatic escalation in violence over the past few days and the massive assault on Gaza, UNRWA has declared an emergency in all five areas of the Gaza Strip. It is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to mount an emergency response should that become necessary. The priority for the Agency has now shifted to emergency operations, providing assistance to those who have been displaced and sought shelter in UNRWA schools, while attempting to continue regular operations. Urgent funding needs persist and are increasing

Key parts:

Close to 18,000 women, men and children spent the night in twenty-one UNRWA designated emergency shelters. Approximately 10,800 people have taken shelter in 16 UNRWA schools in Gaza City and about 7,000 in 5 shelters in northern Gaza.”

As previously reported, the public health sector in Gaza is nearing collapse. To add to this burden, during the past 24 hours, an increased disruption to the functionality of UNRWA health centres in Gaza was reported, and one Health Centre in the Middle Area of the Strip reported damage to its water tanks.”

UNRWA staff are working hard to maintain clean and hygienic shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Over the past 24 hours, there were some cases of Viral Meningitis reported at three shelters in the North Area of Gaza. It is reported that all thirteen cases were referred to a local hospital and there have been no complications regarding treatment. It is understood that each patient had the disease prior to entering the shelter.”

According to OCHA [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs], there were 15 deaths reported over the past 24 hours. This takes the reported total death toll since Tuesday to 189, with at least 1,360 injured. Reports indicate that at least 38 children have been killed over this time period.

Reportedly, 193 missiles were fired by Israel to the Gaza Strip. 111 rockets and 40 mortars were fired towards Israel. It is reported that 34 houses in Gaza were bombarded by Israel. [...] A total of 55 UNRWA installations have been damaged since 1 June, 2014. In the past 24 hours, six UNRWA installations were damaged – five schools in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip and one health centre in the Middle Area of Gaza.

The Israeli blockade of Gaza entered its 8th year in June 2014 and continues to have a devastating effect as access to markets and people’s movement to and from the Gaza Strip remain severely restricted. The economy and its capacity to create jobs has been devastated, with the majority of the population becoming dependent on humanitarian aid to meet basic needs. The number of Palestine refugees relying on UNRWA for food aid has increased from less than 80,000 in 2000 to over 830,000 today.

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