UNICEF in the State of Palestine Escalation Humanitarian Situation Report No.39

Highlights

• After 20 months of conflict, the protection environment for children has almost collapsed, as ongoing hostilities, repeated displacement, and limited humanitarian access continue to have a devastating impact on the safety, security, rights and well-being of children.
• One in five babies in the Gaza Strip is now born preterm or underweight, as worsening malnutrition and collapsing healthcare and sanitation services put newborns and their mothers at extreme risk. Nearly 11,000 pregnant women face famine, and 17,000 more need urgent treatment for acute malnutrition.
• UNICEF with partners continues to provide drinking and domestic water for more than 1.5 million people, which is at greatly depleted levels due to the lack of fuel.
• Forced displacement, demolitions and settler violence incidents continued in the West Bank, and curfews and tightened movement restrictions have disrupted livelihoods and access to schools and healthcare.
• UNICEF faces a critical funding gap of US$ 490.6 million as humanitarian needs escalate.