The UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock announced the release of 22.5 million US Dollars towards the response to rising humanitarian needs in Gaza. The amount includes a 4.5 million Dollars’ allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and up to 18 million Dollars from the Occupied Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund.
Mr Lowcock said that he welcomed the ceasefire and reiterated call on all parties to end the hostilities to allow for emergency humanitarian relief distribution and for civilians to purchase food and water, seek medical care and attend to other emergency needs.
As of 2st of May, the escalation of hostilities in Gaza claimed the lives of at least 242 Palestinians, including 66 children and 38 women and injured over 1,900 people. In Israel, there were at least 12 fatalities, including two children and hundreds of injuries.
The violence has displaced over 77,000 Palestinians, who were seeking protection in 58 UNRWA schools, including in 23 designated emergency shelters. Following the ceasefire announcement, most of the displaced have returned home. However, about 1,000 people whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged still remain. There is concern about the transmission of COVID-19 between vulnerable people who huddled in crowded shelters and the health-care system’s inability to cope.
The hostilities have also caused serious damage to vital civilian infrastructure in Gaza, affecting water, sanitation and hygiene services for hundreds of thousands of people. Electrical power shortages and the damage to the Gaza Ministry of Health Central Laboratory, which processes COVID-19 tests, hinder health-care provision at dozens of centres throughout Gaza.
Hundreds of buildings and homes have been destroyed, damaged or rendered uninhabitable. The ceasefire in place is permitting repair teams to begin assessing the damage more accurately. The funds will help provide affected people with essential services and humanitarian assistance and dispose of explosive ordnance.