13-10-2023 (GENEVA) The UN humanitarian office (OCHA) reported in the early hours of Friday (October 13th) that more than 400,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip, and 23 aid workers have lost their lives since the beginning of Israeli retaliatory strikes following a deadly Hamas incursion.
In response to the escalating crisis, the agency has launched an appeal for nearly US$294 million (S$403 million) to provide assistance to approximately 1.3 million individuals in Gaza and the West Bank. Nearly half of the requested funds are allocated for food aid, as supplies in the region are rapidly depleting.
“Mass displacement continues. In the Gaza Strip, the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has increased by 25 percent in the past 24 hours, surpassing 423,000 individuals, with over two-thirds seeking shelter in UNRWA schools,” stated OCHA, referring to the UN Palestinian refugee agency.
Tragically, 23 aid workers have lost their lives since the weekend, including 11 health workers and 12 employees of the UNRWA. The loss of these dedicated individuals further compounds the humanitarian crisis in the region.
