What is happening in Gaza, The West Bank and LEbanon?
(Last updated: 1 October 2024)
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) has launched an unprecedented emergency response amid growing critical health needs in Gaza and the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem, resulting from the current escalation of violence and Israel’s ongoing bombardment and complete siege on Gaza.
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On 7 October 2023, the Israeli military launched an extensive aerial bombardment across Gaza, hitting homes, hospitals, clinics, schools and essential infrastructure. This has resulted in mass casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
- More than 41,495 Palestinians have been killed and 96,006 have been injured.
- Thousands more are thought to remain missing under the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli military airstrikes.
- In late 2023, before October 7th, Gaza's population was 2.2 million people, according to the MoH. More than 1% of the population have been killed and many were forced to leave Gaza. There is currently an estimated 1.2 million people in Rafah and between 350,000 - 450,000 people in the North of Gaza.
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that cases of meningitis, jaundice, impetigo, chickenpox and other upper respiratory tract infections have been recorded. Almost 600,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea have been recorded due to lack of clean water and other causes, as well as other waste bourne diseases. The Polo virus was also detected in wastewater samples in Gaza, prompting a vaccination campaign by the WHO and partners to combat the virus.
Israel’s military assault follows attacks in cities and towns surrounding Gaza by Palestinian armed groups which killed at least 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, and more than 5,400 injured according to Israeli media.
Since 9 October, Israeli authorities have imposed a total siege on Gaza, halting the entry food, fuel, electricity, medical items and water.
Impact on the health system
- Of the 36 main hospitals that used to serve over two million Gazans, only 17 remain somewhat functional, with severe limitations on the types of services they can deliver.
- Over the past 9 months, the Israeli military has conducted many attacks on healthcare in Gaza and killed at least 500 healthcare workers.
- A clear pattern of repeated, direct and apparently unlawful attacks, as well as the impacts of the siege, leads MAP to conclude that Gaza’s healthcare system is being systematically dismantled.
West Bank, including East Jerusalem
The emergency in Gaza is spilling over into the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Since 7 October 2023:
- Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed 693 Palestinians, including over 143 children, and injured some 14,632 Palestinians.
- Since 7 October 2023, some 4,594 Palestinians, of whom 1,875 are children, have been displaced due to the demolition of their homes.
Lebanon
Since October 2023 and the beginning of Israel’s military assault on Gaza, there have been almost daily exchanges of fire across Lebanon’s southern border between Israel and Hezbollah. On 23 September, Israeli forces intensified its attacks and launched airstrikes across the country leading to some of the deadliest days in decades.
- The Israeli military has killed at least 1540 people, including children and 38 healthcare workers, in airstrikes across southern Lebanon and Beirut, during its armed conflict with Hezbollah, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health. At least 5,140 have been injured.
- Tens of villages have been impacted by airstrikes, leading to the displacement of more than 118,000 people have been displaced from their homes since 23 September, in addition to approximately 211,319 displaced over recent months
- Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, already vulnerable due to overcrowding in refugee camps, poverty, discrimination and marginalisation in Lebanese society, and the denial of their right to return to their homeland, now face even greater risks. MAP will continue to monitor the impact on the communities we serve.
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