Key Points
UN reports critical oxygen shortages in Gaza hospitals
250,000 people enrolled in UN distance learning program
36 Palestinians killed in West Bank military operations
"As the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance across the Gaza Strip, the scale of needs remains overwhelming, requiring urgent and sustained support," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.
OCHA stated that the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported critical shortages in oxygen supplies necessary to maintain emergency, surgical, and intensive care services in hospitals throughout Gaza, including Al Shifa and Al Rantisi in Gaza City. Health partners are collaborating with authorities to bring in generators, spare parts, and equipment needed for local oxygen production, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The office noted that over the weekend, shelter partners distributed tarpaulins to more than 11,000 families in northern Gaza. In Khan Younis, approximately 450 families received sealing-off kits, kitchen sets, and hygiene kits at a displacement site in Al Mawasi.
OCHA mentioned that education activities are expanding, with partners reporting more than 250,000 people enrolled in a distance learning program provided by the UN's relief agency for Palestinian refugees. Humanitarian partners reported that 95 percent of school buildings were damaged during hostilities, forcing many students into makeshift tents and open spaces amid winter temperatures.
In the West Bank, OCHA reported that since the Israeli military operations began on January 21, the most extensive in two decades, 36 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, including 25 in Jenin and nearly a dozen in Tulkarm. The operation is causing high casualties and significant displacement, particularly in refugee camps. Critical infrastructure has also been severely damaged, increasing humanitarian needs.
The office reiterated concerns over the use of lethal, war-like tactics during these operations, suggesting that they exceed standard law enforcement measures.
OCHA also reported that over the weekend, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian residents in several villages in the West Bank's Nablus governorates, setting a house on fire during one of these attacks. Humanitarian partners are mobilizing resources to support the affected communities.
