Gaza Humanitarian Response Update | 16 February - 1 March 2025

Response

• Between 16 February and 1 March, the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) and Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) reported that a daily average of 135,232 cubic metres of water was produced across the Gaza Strip. About 38 per cent (51,707 cubic metres) of drinking water was produced from the two operational seawater desalination plants or supplied through two out of three Mekorot supply lines from Israel, while about 62 per cent (83,526 cubic metres) was produced by municipal ground water wells. CMWU are compensating for the lack of water from the Bani Said Mekorot water supply line by increasing production from groundwater wells in Deir al Balah.
• As of 1 March, partners reported that over 1,300 water points are operational across the Gaza Strip, more than 95 per cent of which are used to support water trucking activities.
• During the reporting period, WASH Cluster partners continued essential WASH interventions across Gaza, including water trucking, distribution of hygiene items, waste collection and installation of latrines continued throughout the Gaza Strip, as follows:
  • In Rafah governorate, CMWU and three WASH partners trucked a total of 298 cubic metres of drinking water to returning internally displaced persons (IDPs) across 39 locations. Additionally, two partners distributed 13,100 hygiene supplies at 10 IDP sites. Currently, one municipal water desalination plant is operational to help address critical shortages caused by extensive damage to water facilities and the inaccessibility of infrastructure located in the buffer and no-go zones.
  • In Khan Younis governorate, 13 partners trucked 958 cubic metres of drinking water and 4,276 cubic metres of domestic water to 217 locations, including displacement sites, schools-turned shelters, and humanitarian service delivery points. During the same period, partners also distributed 196,000 hygiene items and supported solid waste management by collecting 400 cubic metres of solid waste from sites and shelters. While the transfer of solid waste to temporary waste sites is increasing, about half of these sites are already full, and there is no access to landfills (see challenges below). Additionally, two partners installed 552 communal latrines.
  • In Deir al Balah governorate, 14 partners trucked 664 cubic metres of drinking water and 2,531 cubic metres of domestic water to 164 locations, including displacement sites, schools-turned shelters, healthcare facilities and humanitarian service delivery points. Eleven partners distributed more than 286,000 hygiene supplies while 533 cubic metres of waste were collected, and 492 cubic metres of waste were transferred to dumping sites. The Al Amal temporary waste site is nearly full.
  • In Gaza governorate, 15 partners trucked 1,851 cubic metres of drinking water and 759 cubic metres of domestic water to 338 locations, including displacement sites, schools-turned shelters, and humanitarian service delivery points. Additionally, partners distributed 47,000 hygiene supplies, collected 4,265 cubic metres of solid waste and transferred 1,253 cubic metres of solid waste to temporary dump sites. Planning is underway to scale up solid waste collection to 2,500 cubic metres per day in Gaza city.
  • In North Gaza governorate, nine partners trucked 1,153 cubic metres of drinking water and 3,219 cubic metres of domestic water to 210 locations, including displacement sites. In addition, partners distributed 7,300 hygiene supplies and transferred 326 cubic metres of solid waste to temporary dump sites. Two UNRWA wells are operational in Jabalya and work is underway to repair two additional wells.

Challenges

• Energy remains a considerable challenge for the WASH partners. Since October 2023, the Israeli authorities cut off the electricity supply and fuel reserves for Gaza’s only power plant (GPP) were depleted, forcing it to shut down, with electricity generation largely dependent on the entry of fuel for smaller generators. This has severely affected water production and distribution, as well as sewage and solid waste management, which now rely heavily on back-up generators operating long hours. The limited entry of generators, and spare parts, along with restrictions on vehicle spare parts and consumables, has necessitated careful management of WASH systems to sustain a minimum of operations. While improved access conditions following the ceasefire have enabled WASH services to be provided in more locations, the low importation rate of appropriate equipment and materials to Gaza remains a critical challenge.
• The WASH sector supply chain remains a key challenge for an effective response for several reasons. First, a broad range of critical WASH equipment are classified by Israeli authorities as “dual-use” items—goods that are considered useable for either civilian or military purposes—and are subject to entry restrictions. Second, WASH items, such as pipes, generators and prefabricated structures, are bulky, making them difficult to transport and screen, further limiting their availability. To address these challenges, the WASH Cluster urges donors to recognize the risks and impact associated with restrictions on the entry of WASH materials on response timeframes.
• The continued denial of access by the Israeli authorities to the Sofa and Juhor al Dik landfills, which fall within the “buffer” and “no-go” zones, is preventing agencies from transferring solid waste from the 30 temporary dump sites and numerous persistent ad-hoc sites. Approximately half of the temporary dump sites are already full and unable to receive additional amounts of solid waste. Access is needed to the two landfills to ensure a sanitary environment in southern and northern Gaza. Furthermore, the primary solid waste collection South of Wadi Gaza is expected to come to a halt by mid-April due to funding constraints. The WASH sector urgently requires new donors to support this critical activity.

Response

• The mass polio vaccination campaign was successfully concluded on 27 February, immunizing a total of 602,795 children under the age of 10 within five days. This total includes 101,777 children from the North Gaza governorate, 210,279 from Gaza governorate, 100,279 from Deir al Balah governorate, 143,931 from Khan Younis governorate, and 46,529 from the Rafah governorate, surpassing the target with a coverage rate of 102 per cent.
• Between 1 February and 2 March, 1,136 patients, including 451 children, and 1,720 companions have been medically evacuated outside Gaza.
• During the reporting period, Health Cluster partners continued to restore and support health services across Gaza, including by re-opening previously closed primary health care centres (PHCs), restoring services at out-patient departments (e.g. Kamal Adwan Hospital), and expanding emergency services and bed capacity at hospitals and PHCs. In total, there are currently 63 PHCs that are full or partially operational across the Gaza Strip, up from 53 prior to the ceasefire.
• During the reporting period, WHO provided medical supplies to three hospitals and five partners across the Gaza Strip, benefiting approximately 250,000 people. Moreover, UNICEF provided the Ministry of Health with medications and supplies for maternal, neonatal, and child health, including the delivery of 30 continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines—which are used to treat pre-term infants with under-developed lungs—to neonatal units at Al-Aqsa, Nasser, Rantisi, Sahaba, and Patient friendly hospitals. UNFPA has also distributed 2,385 postpartum kits to hospitals and 27 Sonicaid ultrasound devices to three partners to support maternal health services.
• On 21 February, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) opened a field hospital at Saraya Square in Gaza city, equipped with 70 beds, an emergency department, two operating theatres, and seven intensive care unit (ICU) beds. PRCS also established three Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in Rafah and North Gaza and activated emergency medical services in both areas. In total, there are currently nine field hospitals operational across Gaza, including one in Gaza governorate, three in Deir al Balah, three in Khan Younis, and two in Rafah.
• Between 19 January and 1 March, 12 health facilities—five in the north and seven in the south—have been supported in establishing Early Warning, Alert, and Response Systems (EWARS) to enhance disease surveillance.
• During the last week of February, UNFPA trained 20 moderators online, with support from international and national consultants, on conducting focus group discussions and key informant interviews for the Maternal and Neonatal Health Study.

Challenges

• Restrictions by Israeli authorities on the importation of certain items persists, including generators, spare parts, oxygen plants, medical equipment, reagents and laboratory equipment, negatively affecting the ability of partners to further scale up health interventions and expand service delivery. As of 1 March, 15 out of 35 hospitals, 82 out of 145 PHCs, and 194 out of 360 medical points across the Gaza Strip remain non-functional.

Response

• During the reporting period, more than 33,400 children were screened for acute malnutrition, bringing the total number of children screened since the ceasefire took effect on 19 January to about 119,600 — one third of the target for the first quarter of 2025. Among those screened, 3,423 children were diagnosed with acute malnutrition, including 498 with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), and were enrolled in treatment programmes. During the same period, partners screened at least 6,713 pregnant and breast-feeding women (PBW), bringing the total number of screened PBW since the ceasefire to 23,412, of whom 1,112 were diagnosed with acute malnutrition. As of 1 March, Nutrition Cluster partners provided services at four in-patient Stabilization Centres for the treatment of SAM with medical complications, 135 sites provided out-patient treatment of acute malnutrition, about 180 sites provided nutrient supplementation, and over 320 sites provided Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) services.
• During the reporting period, WFP and partners provided specialized nutrient supplements to more than 36,000 children and 15,000 PBW as a preventative measure for acute malnutrition. Since the start of the ceasefire, nearly 230,000 children and 90,000 PBW received these supplements, representing 80 per cent and 60 per cent of the estimated 290,000 children and 150,000 PBW requiring micronutrient supplements.
• To improve dietary diversity among infants and young children, UNICEF is providing ready-to-use complementary foods, such as jars of mixed fruit, mixed vegetables, and mixed meat options. Since the start of the ceasefire, more than 19,590 infants and young children benefited from this assistance, including about 8,820 reached in February.
• Preparations are underway to conduct a standard nutrition assessment (SMART) survey across the Gaza strip to better assess the prevalence of acute malnutrition and guide response efforts.

Response

• During the reporting period, the Emergency Protection Responder (EPR) network and the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) volunteer network continued to deploy mobile protection teams at multi-sector distribution points, where people receive humanitarian assistance, to promote safeguarding and dignity practices. Currently, there are 100 mobile protection teams across the Gaza strip. On 16 and 17 February, the Protection Cluster conducted training sessions in Gaza city to strengthen the capacity of the EPR network in northern Gaza, focusing on protection case identification and safe referral pathways. Between 19 January and 1 March, 152 distribution sites were monitored and PSEA messaging reached over 4,400 community members.
• During the reporting period, three Mine Action (MA) actors conducted 102 Explosive Hazard Assessments (EHAs), including four for access roads, 27 for shelters and camps, 11 for UN facilities, 21 for medical facilities, and seven for public places, among others. MA partners also participated in 43 inter-agency missions to ensure safe access. Furthermore, between 19 January and 1 March, more than 1,690 Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) sessions were delivered for about 41,000 people, including over 2,760 children.
• Between 16 February and 1 March, UNRWA protection teams continued to identify and respond to protection risks and needs of displaced people across the Gaza Strip, focusing on identifying vulnerable people and facilitating their referral to specialized services. During this period, UNRWA's protection team conducted protection observations in 15 shelters and IDP sites. On 15 February, UNRWA teams coordinated the provision of assistance to at least 343 former detainees released at the Kerem Shalom crossing.
• During the reporting period, the Child Protection (CP) actors:
  • Conducted two rounds of training of trainers (TOT) sessions on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for CP service providers, targeting 50 frontline workers.
  • Organized two training sessions on case management for 40 frontline workers and three sessions on safe identification and referral pathways for 75 frontline workers.
  • Established eight new child-friendly spaces (CFS) in northern Gaza as part of efforts to scale up child protection activities there.
  • Distributed 45,000 winter clothing kits and 47,000 winter jackets for children across the Gaza strip.
• During the reporting period, the Housing, Land and Property Technical Working Group (HLP TWG) continued to coordinate with the Palestinian Authority (PA) Joint Operations Room and PA ministries to assess the status of digital land records, analyze and identify the challenges facing HLP issues (e.g. erasure of property boundaries, loss of documentation, debris accumulation), and develop recommendations. Among others, this includes enhancing public awareness on negotiations with landlords on land use, developing a guidance note on debris management that takes into account HLP challenges, and advising humanitarian frontline workers on how to address and channel HLP concerns when they arise.

Challenges

• Child protection actors continue to face challenges in establishing new Child Friendly Spaces due to limited space and the need for large winter tents.
• The rising prices of limited Information and Communication Technology (ICT) devices available on the local market are increasing the cost of providing case management services and managing sensitive data.

Response

• On 23 February, the Ministry of Education (MoE) announced the start of a new semester, marking the beginning of a compressed academic year for 2024-2025 and the first time some students return to some form of in-person learning at schools in 17 months. As of 3 March, according to the MoE, over 150,000 students have enrolled in 165 governmental schools across Gaza, more than half of which are operating on three shifts a day, and over 7,000 teachers have been mobilized to support teaching. Of the total, 30 schools are in Gaza governorate, 52 in Deir al Balah, 57 in Khan Younis, and 26 in Rafah.
• Education Cluster partners continue to support these schools through cleaning efforts and teacher orientation initiatives. More than 658,000 school-aged children lost their access to formal education since October 2023 and at least 88 per cent of school buildings require either full reconstruction or major rehabilitation to be functional again.
• Moreover, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has registered approximately 32,600 students to take their final high school matriculation exams (Tawjihi), while more students are yet to enroll, as Grade 12 enrollments stood at around 39,000 in 2023. While three Cluster partners have committed to providing about 6,000 tablets, these remain in the West Bank; the tablets are needed to meet the minimum requirement of a three-shift daily exam schedule to accommodate all students.
• Over the past two weeks, at least 10 Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) have been established, primarily in Gaza city and North Gaza governorates, providing educational access to more than 2,500 learners. The Education Cluster continues to mobilize partners to scale up and establish additional TLS, particularly in these areas, which remain underserved despite increasing school-aged children relocating from southern Gaza.
• Currently, about 460 TLS are accommodating more than 152,000 students across different grades. During the same reporting period, two Education Cluster members, in partnership with World Central Kitchen, distributed fresh fruits to 832 children enrolled in TLS in northern Gaza city. This initiative aims to promote enrollment and regular attendance while also supporting children’s nutritional needs.

Challenges

• Ongoing restrictions on the entry of education supplies, such as large tents as well as recreational, student and psycho-social support kits, continue to hamper the education response. In February, at least 10 pre-approved trucks carrying basic education supplies were denied entry into Gaza. Between 19 January when the ceasefire took effect and 1 March, only 100 out of an estimated 600 special tents needed to serve as temporary learning spaces entered Gaza.
• Anticipated delays in the entry of tablets for high-school examinations, the need for prior orientation on tablet use, lack of internet access and limited charging stations are some of the challenges facing Tawjihi students in taking in their high-school matriculation exams, the exact timing of which remain uncertain. Additionally, while the MoE has identified at least 85 schools/hubs to host the exams, these locations lack basic furniture, and many have WASH facilities in poor condition that require urgent repairs. The ongoing shortage of construction materials is preventing critical minor repairs in schools that sustained damage during hostilities and/or had been used as IDP shelters and have become worn down. This includes damage to WASH facilities, as well as the loss and destruction of furniture and teaching materials.
• On 25 February, the UNDSS reported that the Al-Qadisiya School in Tal As-Sultan neighborhood, west of Rafah, was hit by gunfire. This incident is concerning, as schools in Rafah are set to reopen this week. Over the past 15 months of hostilities, schools – many having to serve as emergency shelters – have repeatedly come under attack, instilling fear among children, teachers, and parents and severely disrupting education-in-emergency efforts within school environments.
• Funding remains insufficient to meet the massive levels of education needs, hampering the ability of education partners to expand access to education and mitigate the long-term impact of this crisis.

Response

• During the reporting period, SMC partners have continued the identification of sites that require decommissioning in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis, from which people have fully or largely left. Since the ceasefire took effect, people have left from a total of 105 sites.
• Since the ceasefire took effect on 19 January, SMC partners have identified 91 newly established IDP sites in North Gaza and Gaza governorates. As of 3 March, partners are managing a total of 162 active sites for displaced people across the Gaza Strip.
• SMC partners continue to provide site planning support to organizations engaged in setting up sites, ensuring adherence to minimum standards. While sites are a last resort, proper site-planning can significantly improve the living conditions and dignity for displaced people. Guidance can be found here.
• During the reporting period, one SMC partner delivered a two-day training course in Gaza city for 18 participants from local and international NGOs on core activities of site management as well as key principles of site planning.

Challenges

• Coordinated approaches to site planning remains a challenge given the involvement of a multitude of organizations who are not SMC members, which limits the ability to systematically adhere to minimum standards, including proper Explosive Hazard Assessments, land preparation (levelling), and adequate space for infrastructure.
• While 58 sites have been established on land allocated by municipalities, SMC reports that some sites have been set up on privately-owned land, which often lack formal land usage agreements and could potentially fuel Housing, Land and Property disputes.
• Only a small percentage of the overall number of IDP sites are managed by SMC partners due to limited funding, leaving many sites without adequate support or oversight. SMC is currently conducting site assessments to determine the number of sites not currently supported by SMC partners.

Response

• Between 19 January, when the ceasefire took effect, and 2 March, the UN and its partners brought into Gaza more than 130,000 tents, of which about 112,000 tents were distributed, including more than 97,000 tents in the north and about 15,000 in the south. These figures only relate to shelter materials provided or facilitated through UN coordination. As of 2 March, about 59,000 tents are in the pipeline to enter Gaza when the crossings reopen.

Challenges

• Identifying safe and accessible locations to set up shelters remains a critical challenge due to widespread damage, rubble, explosive remnants of war and the lack of essential services. There remains an urgent need to bring in construction materials, particularly cement, to scale up shelter response by preparing foundations for sites.
• During the reporting period, some Shelter partners were forced to delay distributions because the shelter materials they received were missing some of their parts, such as receiving framing kits without sealing-off materials.

Response

• Between 16 and 28 February, the Logistics Cluster facilitated 10 Government-to-Government and three Back-to-Back convoys of 308 trucks from Amman to Erez West/East on behalf of 14 partners, carrying 2,242 metric tonnes of food, health, nutrition, shelter, and WASH items. As of 1 March, the Logistics Cluster has facilitated 140 humanitarian inter-agency convoys through the Jordan corridor, dispatching 2,163 trucks with 20,332 metric tonnes of aid into Gaza on behalf of 27 partners.
• During the reporting period, 21 organizations participated in the fourth round of the Gaza Humanitarian Storage Capacity Survey, providing information on 72 warehouses. As needed in the future, the survey enables the Logistics Cluster to further assist warehouse sharing among partners.
• The Logistics Cluster's new 3,500-pallet capacity consolidation warehouse in Amman is now operational and is open to receiving partner cargo.

Challenges

• During the reporting period, Israeli authorities introduced the requirement to use curtain-sided trucks for deliveries to Erez crossing, but very limited quantities are available on the local market.
• During the reporting period, a technical issue with the scanner at Nitzana, used for inspecting trucks delivered to the Kerem Shalom-Karem Abu Salem crossing, has resulted in trucks having to return to Al Arish, Egypt, adding to the growing backlog of trucks awaiting entry into Gaza via the Egypt route.

Response

• The ETC has continued to support humanitarian operations of UN agencies and the Gaza Security Operations Centre (GSOC), including the delivery on 25 February of a solar-powered solution to ensure uninterrupted power for critical operations. This is one of four solar solution kits that had been brought into Gaza in July 2024. ETC also provided one agency with two satellite-based tracking devices to support staff safety and security; these devices were part of the final batch of 15 devices delivered to Gaza on 13 January.
• For more information on ETC activities, please visit:Palestine: Conflict | Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) (etcluster.org).

Challenges

• A significant amount of equipment has been damaged or destroyed due to hostilities, and the import of telecommunications equipment remains restricted and challenging, including after the ceasefire. This continues to limit the delivery of planned ETC services and improvements in the accessibility of telecommunications and internet services across Gaza.
• Insufficient funding has limited the Cluster’s capacity to address immediate critical communications needs for humanitarian responders in Gaza. The Cluster continues to appeal to potential donors for funding.

Protection against sexual abuse and exploitation (PSEA) remains a cross-cutting priority for all clusters. Aid distribution must be delivered with dignity and respect. Any wrongdoing can be reported through SAWA toll-free number 164. SAWA will assist and provide services free of charge and with the utmost confidentiality.

* Asterisks indicate that a figure, sentence, or section has been rectified, added, or retracted after the initial publication of this update.