'Israel' denied 41% UN aid missions to Gaza between April 6-12: OCHA
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An extensive report by OCHA released on April 12 on Palestine, published three times a week, highlights the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the post-withdrawal situation in Khan Younis.
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Palestinians walk through the destruction in the wake of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, April 8, 2024. (AP)
41% of UN-coordinated aid missions to northern Gaza between 6 and 12 April were "impeded or denied access" by "Israel", the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) posted on X on April 14.
The UN office further urged the Israeli occupation to "facilitate humanitarian support" by highlighting that its obligation ends when aid reaches Palestinians.
41% of @UN-coordinated aid missions to northern #Gaza between 6 and 12 April were impeded or denied access.
— OCHA oPt (Palestine) (@ochaopt) April 14, 2024
The Israeli authorities' obligation to facilitate humanitarian support only ends when aid reaches civilians.#AccessDenied
More: https://t.co/5jlmTLkGFl pic.twitter.com/hZtW6xZDl5
A deeper look into Israeli crimes reported by OCHA
On April 12, OCHA published the "OCHA oPt Flash Update" which shed light on recent updates in the Israeli war on Gaza.
Israeli bombing from the air, land, and sea violations continue to be reported across much of the Gaza Strip, OCHA said.
This bombing, it added, resulted in further "civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction of houses and other civilian infrastructure."
OCHA highlighted that on April 11, the Israeli occupation forces declared that they commenced a ground operation in central Gaza.
The following are among the deadly incidents listed between 7 and 11 April by OCHA:
- On April 7, at about 17:50, six Palestinians were reportedly killed when the IOF hit a cleaning supplies store in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, in Deir al-Balah.
- On April 8, at about 18:50, five Palestinians, including the mayor of al-Maghazi, were reportedly killed when the IOF targeted the building of al-Maghazi Municipality, in Deir al-Balah.
- On April 9, at about 22:40, five Palestinians, including children, were reportedly killed and others injured when the IOF targeted a house east of Jabalia town, in North Gaza.
- On April 9, at about 20:35, 14 Palestinians were reportedly killed and others injured when the IOF targeted a house in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, in Deir al-Balah.
- On April 10, at about 16:00, six Palestinians, including three adults and three children, were reportedly killed and one child was injured when the IOF targeted a vehicle in al-Shati camp.
- On April 11, at about 7:00, at least three Palestinians were reportedly killed and others injured when the IOF targeted a UNRWA school in Nuseirat New Camp, in Deir al-Balah.
- On April 11, at about 11:10, six Palestinians were reportedly killed and others injured when the IOF targeted a group of people in the al-Junina neighborhood, in Rafah.
- On April 11, at about 15:00, at least six Palestinians were reportedly killed when the IOF hit the Firas public market in Gaza City.
Nasser Hospital, UN warehouse significantly damaged by 'Israel'
In an update on Khan Younis, OCHA, referenced a UN inter-agency assessment mission to the area on April 10 after the withdrawal of IOF, which highlighted the devasting destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, medical centers, and roads among other civilian infrastructure in the area.
Among the buildings discovered as "significantly damaged" were a UN warehouse and Nasser Hospital, including "substantial amounts" of medications and trauma supplies given as humanitarian assistance.
OCHA further said that WHO staff reported the scene around multiple hospitals and labeled the destruction as "disproportionate to anything one can imagine." The hospitals listed are Nasser Hospital, Al-Amal Hospital, and Al-Khair Hospital which the staff labeled as "non-functional," highlighting that they require assessments to evaluate if specialized medical devices, CT scanners, oxygen plants, generators, and solar panels "can function again."
OCHA said that the UN team made up of representatives of OCHA, UNRWA, WHO, WFP, UNMAS, and UNFPA, also reported that Palestinians who went back to the area alongside those who never left are grappling with dire shortages of food, water, and other critical supplies, as well as collapsed services.
It highlighted that they are at severe safety risks due to unexploded ordnance (UXOs) are still in the area including 1,000-pound bombs on main road intersections and inside schools.
OCHA also referenced a report by the Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim, Jamie McGoldrick, during a visit on April 9 to UNRWA school sheltering tens of thousands of internally displaced Palestinians in Khan Younis which said that thousands of internally displaced Palestinians are among those at risk as they are in dire need of humanitarian support services, including health, water and sanitation, food, and specialized support for women and disabled people.
