Update on the occupied Palestinian territory

Update on the occupied Palestinian territory

1. Dr Richard Peeperkorn The WHO R epresentative for the occupied Palestinian territory Update on the occupied Palestinian territory ​

2. 2 Situation in the Gaza Strip 41 965 people killed 97 590 people injured 10 000+ people under the rubble 1.9 million (> 85% ) people displaced 6% of the population affected

3. 3 Situation in the Gaza Strip hospitals partially functional primary health care facilities functional 17/36 57 /132 field hospitals functional 10/10 47% 43% 100% +24 000 people with major injuries , no rehabilitation services - WHO report Confirmed cVDPV2 case and detection in environmental samples 495 000 people facing catastrophic levels of hunger Surveillance system disrupted – key diseases underreported: Water, sanitation and hygiene conditions will likely deteriorate and disease incidences are likely to continue rising Health needs, disease and malnutrition 563 000+ acute watery diarrhoea 974 000+ a cute respiratory infections 105 000+ hepatitis A cases 65 000+ skin infections

4. 4 Situation in the Gaza Strip 516 health attacks Challenges and operational constraints  ⁠ Insecurity affecting access and mission safety ⁠Attacks on health Extensive, time-consuming coordination requirements Lack of reliable deconfliction mechanism and adherence to it Lack/irregular supply of fuel affecting humanitarian operations Shortage of medical supplies, essential medicines and equipment Displacement of medical and humanitarian personnel 765 people killed 990 people injured 110 health facilities affected, including 32 hospitals damaged 115 ambulances affected, including 63 with sustained damage 84% of Gaza Strip covered by evacuation orders excluding those that have been revoked. This includes several hospitals and health facilities.

5. 5 Medical evacuation Key asks: WHO appeals for the establishment of multiple medical evacuation corridors, including Rafah and Kerem Shalom, to ensure sustained, organized, safe and timely passage of patients Restoration of medical evacuations from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank , including East Jerusalem The transfer of patients to Egypt and Jordan must be facilitated, and from there to other countries when needed 5138 (33%) out of 15 600 requested cases approved since October 2023 Only 231 patients evacuated since Rafah closure in May 2024 An estimated 12 000 patients need medical evacuation outside the Gaza Strip.

6. 6 Polio vaccination campaign First round (1–12 September) 559 000 children under 10 years vaccinated with novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) Phased implementation in three zones: central, south and north, and special coordinated missions outside agreed zones An area-specific humanitarian pause of nine hours daily Over 400 fixed, mobile and transit teams deployed Strong community engagement Operational challenges: Devastated infrastructure Limited trained health care workers Access issues due to insecurity Constant population movement Limited fuel for generators used to safely store vaccines and freeze ice packs

7. Polio vaccination campaign Second round Planned14–28 October Target population revised from 640 500 to 591 714 for children under 10 years Vitamin A to be provided for children aged 6 months to 10 years Commitment for humanitarian pauses must be respected The vaccination teams must be protected and allowed to conduct the campaigns safely

8. WHO response in the Gaza Strip in close coordination with Ministry of Health and partners 7 million litres of fuel delivered to sustain health care since October 2023 264 WHO trucks crossed into the Gaza Strip since October 2023, with 1100 metric tonnes of medical supplies, enabling 16 400 emergency and surgical interventions, reaching 324 000 people for basic health care needs and 1.5 million people suffering from noncommunicable diseases. Organizing and supporting patient transfers and medical evacuations 15 emergency medical teams functional in the Gaza Strip, operating four field hospitals, 1.5 million+ consultations provided Supporting three malnutrition stabilization centres Supporting disease surveillance and other health information system functions Supporting primary health care restoration Health information – advocacy ⁠Coordinating the health response of 61 Health Cluster partners Ongoing missions to hospitals to conduct assessments, patient transfers, deploy emergency medical teams and provide fuel, medical supplies and equipment. 214 95 facilitated 20 cancelled 52 impeded 47 denied missions October 2023 – September 2024

9. Health Cluster partners’ response in numbers (October 2023 – September 2024) 9 million primary health care consultations 476 000 trauma and emergency-related interventions 245 000 children immunized against diseases 185 000 antenatal consultations 297 000 post-natal consultations 1.7 million noncommunicable diseases management consultations 75 100 multidisciplinary rehabilitation consultations 1.4 million mental health and psychosocial support- related consultations US$ 114 million worth of health supplies and equipment have been procured with almost US$ 80.3 million worth delivered

10. Situation in the West Bank Response: Distribution of trauma supplies and equipment. In-hospital stockpile re-initiated for key hospitals. Emergency stocks prepositioned in Nablus and Hebron Supplies prepositioned at WHO warehouse Technical assistance ongoing: oncology, primary health care and health financing ⁠ 695 people killed Continued military operations and increased settler violence Ongoing fiscal crisis resulting in stockouts of over 45% medicines Closures and delays at check points affecting access to health care Decrease in permits to enter East Jerusalem for specialized care Hospitals operating on reduced workforce capacity , primary health care facilities open two days/week 25 people killed 55 health facilities affected, including 21 hospitals damaged 445 ambulances affected 624 health attacks 111 people injured

11. Way forward: Support to the Gaza Strip and West Bank WHO operational response plan: April–December 2024 CLICK Delivery of essential health services Public health intelligence, early warning, prevention and control Supplies and logistics support Coordination Early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction

12. Early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction  Interim damage assessment completed by the World Bank, UN and EU in February 2024:  > US$ 500 million in damage to health infrastructure, which is an underestimate   > 80% of health facilities damaged or destroyed   Palestinian Authority:  Gaza Relief and Early Recovery Plan, Ministry of Relief, Ministry of Planning  Palestinian Authority, UN, World Bank, EU:  Conflict Recovery Framework  Health sector paper, led by the Ministry of Health, WHO and the World Bank, on early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction

13. Key asks Sustained support for the humanitarian and development marathon Continue and substantially expand ongoing humanitarian health response Phase-in early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction for the coming decade Ensure health remains a key priority

14. Ceasefire