Humanitarians assess needs after Israeli airstrike on Gaza: UN

UNITED NATIONS - Humanitarian teams in Gaza are assessing the needs of those affected by Monday's Israeli airstrike on the Al Muwasi area of Khan Younis, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Tuesday.

In addition to the killing of a mother and her baby girl, initial information suggests that the tents of more than 150 families have been destroyed and those of 250 other families were damaged, said OCHA.

"Survivors have told humanitarian partners that Israeli authorities had warned them of an imminent attack," the office said.

The United Nations and its partners will support the newly displaced or affected through a rapid joint distribution mechanism, it said.

OCHA also said its humanitarian partners warned of a rise in chickenpox cases across Gaza. In two weeks, they recorded nearly 9,300 cases across more than 130 health facilities, with over half of the cases in Khan Younis.

"Partners link this surge to the deteriorating environmental conditions, overcrowding, and sanitation and hygiene gaps," the office said. "The UN and its partners are sending antihistamines, antibiotics, fever relievers and other essential medicines."

OCHA said its partners are also scaling up water trucking to displacement sites, intensifying chlorination and enhancing latrine clearing and disinfection, while 100 health promoters continue to be deployed in prioritized locations to educate people on isolation practices and how to seek early medical support.

Health partners warned that the response is not enough, stressing the need for more resources, more hygiene kits, unimpeded access to affected areas, and sustained funding to expand treatment coverage, the office said.

In East Jerusalem, OCHA said that Israeli forces on Tuesday entered the oldest vocational training facility of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the Kalandia Training Centre.

UNRWA reported that Israeli forces took pictures of the premises and announced that the center had to close, although no documents were handed over, said OCHA.

The center serves hundreds of students from refugee camps across the West Bank, including many who are poor and benefit from free education services at the facility, it said.

"Today's (Tuesday's) raid breached the inviolability of UN premises and violated Israel's obligations concerning the privileges and immunities of the UN," OCHA said. "UNRWA is an integral part of the UN and of the humanitarian community and operates under a clear mandate from the General Assembly. Such actions obstruct our joint efforts to provide humanitarian support to people in need."

The Israeli government has long criticized UNRWA and its staff, claiming the agency is a hotbed of Hamas activity, although it has not provided concrete proof.

A handful of UNRWA employees have been fired due to questionable relations with Hamas since the deadly Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.