UN Seeks $1.2 Billion in Aid for Urgent Needs of Gaza Residents

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs states that it will increase its initial request for assistance to Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip by more than four times, reaching approximately $1.2 billion. The new request will focus solely on providing food, water, healthcare, shelter, health services, and other 'essential priorities.' Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for this office, mentioned that only a quarter of the current request amounting to $297 million has been met by countries and donors led by the United States, which has contributed $24 million. On Friday, November 3, he told reporters in Geneva that the number of displaced persons in Gaza has reached nearly 1.5 million, or about 70% of Gaza's population. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that nearly 700,000 people have taken refuge in about 150 UN-affiliated centers, which is more than four times their intended capacity. This means that in some shelters, up to 240 people are living in areas of 40 to 60 square meters. According to the Associated Press, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain in northern Gaza despite repeated Israeli requests for evacuation, many hoping to find safety in UN centers. However, Philippe Lazzarini, the Secretary-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, announced that four UN schools in northern Gaza, which had become shelters, were targeted, resulting in the deaths of 24 people. Israeli attacks on Gaza began after more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Hamas attacks. The Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, reported that over 9,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing conflict, most of whom are women, adolescents, and children. In response, Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields. Israel, which has been designated as a terrorist group by the US and some other countries, claims that Hamas has a vast network of tunnels beneath Gaza, including under some hospitals, where weapons, food, and other supplies are believed to be stored. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that the second-largest hospital in Gaza is at risk of fire. The World Health Organization warns that Gaza is on the brink of a 'public health disaster.' Israel has again targeted buildings in a Gaza refugee camp. Guterres has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza; the UAE expresses concern over the escalation of the humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian organizations have cut off communication with Gaza; the World Health Organization has called for an immediate ceasefire. According to an UNCTAD report, billions of dollars are needed to rebuild Gaza's shattered infrastructure.