Crisis in Palestine: UNFPA Palestine Situation Report #1 - 13 October 2023

Following Palestinian armed groups’ launch of “Operation Al-Asqa Flood” on 7 October, the Israeli Forces launched operation “Iron Sword“ with strikes on the Gaza Strip by air, land and sea. The current escalation follows six major military escalations between Israel and Palestinian militants in the past years, leading to substantial destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure and grave human suffering. This escalation has been marked by increased brutality and destruction, surpassing previous conflicts.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health’s update on 13 October, at least 1,799 Palestinians have lost their lives, and 6,388 have been injured in Gaza since the start of the escalation. An additional 44 Palestinians, including four children, were killed, and 700 were injured by Israeli forces in the West Bank. With Israel’s formal declaration of war, the number of vulnerable individuals is expected to increase, and settler attacks in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are becoming more violent.

The occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) Flash Appeal was initiated on October 12, 2023, and seeks to secure US$294 million to address the most pressing requirements of 1,260,000 individuals in Gaza and the occupied West Bank over a three-month period. Within the framework of this inter-agency flash appeal, UNFPA’s financial requirements amount to US$6.9 million* as follows: Sexual and Reproductive Health US$3.6 million; Gender-Based Violence US$3.3 million.