Aid agencies' deep concern at ongoing Israeli security operation in Jenin refugee camp
UN humanitarians expressed deep concern on Tuesday about the loss of lives and the scale and severity of injuries sustained by Palestinians amid the ongoing security operation in Jenin refugee camp in the Occupied West Bank, launched by Israeli forces on 3 July.
While aid partners have mobilized to assist, they called for a humanitarian corridor to reach injured and affected victims.
“We are alarmed at the scale of air and ground operations that are taking place in Jenin and continuing today in the West Bank, and especially on airstrikes hitting a densely populated refugee camp,” said Vanessa Huguenin, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “This is the second operation in Jenin involving airstrikes within two weeks.”
The OCHA official noted that the deaths of 10 Palestinians - including three children – had been confirmed by the Palestinian Ministry of Health on Tuesday morning. “At least 100 others have been injured, of whom 20 are reportedly in critical conditions,” Ms. Huguenin said.
She added: “The airstrikes also significantly damaged structures in which people were living both in the camp and in surrounding areas. Due to damage to infrastructure, most of the Jenin camp is currently without drinking water and the first initial estimation also indicates that most of the camp is also without electricity.”
OCHA’s reaction to the security operation followed remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose office issued a statement on Monday noting that he was “deeply concerned about the developments in Jenin” and “affirmed that all military operations must be conducted with full respect for international humanitarian law”.
The destruction of public infrastructure, including many of the roads in the refugee camp, has restricted access for medical teams and ambulances. OCHA reported that as of Monday afternoon, access to the refugee camp was mostly possible from one entrance where Israeli forces conduct checks on vehicles, including ambulances.
Health facilities have also reportedly sustained damage and health partners and have reported critical shortages of medical supplies.
“The extent of injuries places strains on the fragile and underfunded health system in Jenin,” said Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO). “WHO is working with the health teams on the ground to support the activation of the Emergency Plan for the Jenin Hospital and the mobilization of pre-positioned trauma supplies.”
At least two hospitals have been affected by violence involving ammunition and gas canisters, said the WHO.
Mr. Lindmeier also recalled that attacks against health care, including prevention of access to persons injured, were extremely concerning.
“The ambulances and first responders have been prevented from entering parts of the refugee camp, including to reach persons who have been critically injured,” said the WHO spokesperson. “There is currently no safe corridor for humanitarian access, which is a key focus of ongoing UN negotiations and the Ministry of Health has shared a list of urgently needed medical supplies, which is being reviewed by WHO and health partners.”
According to WHO, Jenin refugee camp has been the target of intensifying and recurring security operations by Israeli forces over the past two years.
The ongoing intervention in Jenin is the largest Israeli military operation on the refugee camp since 2002. Those injured are being treated at three main hospitals: Khalil Sleiman Hospital, Ibn Sina Hospital and Al Razi Hospital.
WHO data shows that there has been a significant increase in attacks on health care in 2023, particularly in the West Bank; from January to May, the UN health agency documented at least 124 attacks on health care, resulting in 39 healthworker injuries and 117 ambulances affected.
-ends-
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
Institutionalised forced labour by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea constitutes grave violations of human rights – UN report
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Time is running out for starving civilians in Sudan, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday, while talks involving the country’s warring parties continue in Geneva this week.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
DRC faces a severe humanitarian crisis with 25M in need and rising conflict-related issues.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA
A gimmer of good news emerged from Gaza on Tuesday as patients returned to at a newly reopened UN health centre in Khan Younis, six months after it was severely damaged and forced to close by heavy fighting, the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN condemns attacks on Kyiv hospitals, calls for immediate action to protect civilians.
1
1
2
Edited News | WHO
In Gaza, soaring temperatures, hunger and unsanitary conditions present an ever more deadly threat to a population under constant attack, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WMO , IFRC
Hurricane Beryl smashes into Caribbean, turns sights on Mexico As Hurricane Beryl’s destructive path shifted to Mexico on Friday after roiling the Caribbean, UN agencies and partners said that the emergency response was underway, before warning that a very long and damaging hurricane season looks increasingly likely.
1
1
2
Edited News | IOM , mcc , UNHCR
Refugees and migrants continue to face extreme forms of violence, exploitation and death on sea and on land across Africa as they attempt to leave the continent, UN agencies said on Friday, in an appeal to border authorities to do more to protect them.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk at the 56th Human Rigths Council, made the following update on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , WHO
New evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army for areas in southern Gaza are expected to impact 250,000 people, including eastern Khan Younis and Rafah, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , WHO
Gaza: People are desperate, they need everything, says UN aid agency Panic and desperation now grip ordinary Gazans struggling to survive, UN humanitarians said on Friday, amid fuel shortages of fuel and dwindling supplies that have prevented aid teams from doing their job.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
UN aid teams and partner organizations remain deeply committed to delivering lifesaving supplies into Gaza, despite the increasing dangers of working there, the Organization’s top aid official said on Wednesday.