Gaza ceasefire response

UNRWA, WFP and partner organizations beyond the UN have reached about 1 million people across Gaza with food parcels since the start of the ceasefire. In the first week of the ceasefire, hundreds of thousands of cooked meals were prepared in 160 kitchens and distributed daily. Humanitarian partners are relocating their kitchens to match the movement of returnees.

Humanitarian partners are providing nutrition services, such as case detection and treatment, provision of specialized nutritious food for children under five years, and complementary food for infants. In addition to the prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition, UNICEF provides multiple micronutrient powder to reduce micronutrient deficiency and offers orientation sessions on how to use it.

Our partners remain present at monitoring points along Gaza’s south-north routes, distributing child identity bracelets to prevent family separation. There are also teams at the monitoring point that continue to provide psychological first aid and counselling.

The UN Mine Action Service is helping humanitarians move across the Strip safely. UNMAS officers have accompanied some 300 convoys since the ceasefire took effect. Partners have also distributed 22,000 leaflets and posters on explosive ordnance to the population in Gaza city and North Gaza.

The UN and our humanitarian partners continue to ramp up our response at monitoring points along the way. This includes first aid and psychological support for the most vulnerable, including children, women and older people.

Yesterday, an OCHA team visited two sites in the South Remal and Tel al Hawa neighborhoods in Gaza city. People there say they urgently need water, kitchen supplies, bedding and cleaning items.

Yesterday, the World Health Organization delivered dignity kits in the north to support the hygiene needs of more than 26,000 women and girls. There are plans to expand the capacity of Al Shifa hospital in Gaza city by 200 beds.

WHO is also working with the Ministry of Health to carry out an assessment at Indonesian Hospital to support the restoration of that facility. Two surgical teams are being deployed to the Ahli Arab and Public Aid hospitals in Gaza city to support trauma and surgical capacity there. WHO says discussions are in their final stages on setting up a prefabricated health facility in Gaza city.

The UN and our humanitarian partners are assisting those on the move between southern and northern Gaza – particularly children, pregnant women, older people, and those with disabilities – by providing water, high-energy biscuits and medical care along the two routes. The World Food Programme plans to set up more distribution points in the north this week as people continue to return.

The UN and our partners are supporting efforts to restore critical civilian infrastructure. Humanitarian partners are coordinating with the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company to repair the damaged power line that feeds the South Gaza desalination plant, which is currently running on fuel.

In North Gaza governorate yesterday, UNICEF has distributed 135 cubic metres of water to communities in Jabalya, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun – areas that had been besieged for over three months.