UNITED NATIONS, May 20 (NNN-XINHUA) – The United Nations’ casualty count from hostilities in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, yesterday showed 256 people dead – including 69 children and an Israeli soldier – and thousands of Palestinians injured.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, 219 Palestinians, including 63 children, were killed in Gaza. In the West Bank, 25 Palestinian deaths were recorded, including four children. On the Israeli side, only 12 people were killed, including two children and a soldier.
The hostilities shuttered six Palestinian hospitals and nine primary healthcare centres in Gaza. Damage from a nearby airstrike halted COVID-19 testing at the Gaza Central Laboratory, the UN humanitarians reported. A non-governmental organisation hospital stopped functioning because of fuel shortages.
Electric power in Gaza dropped, on average, to just three to four hours a day, due to feeder line damage, OCHA said.
The World Food Programme reported giving out electronic vouchers to 74,000 people in Gaza as of Monday. Humanitarian partners were assessing the damage to homes and prioritising repair support.
The UN refugee agency for Palestinians, known as UNRWA, said, it provides for the displaced in designated areas, water, sanitation, hygiene services for the displaced and electric generators.
Yesterday, OCHA said, Israel barred trucks carrying cargo that included COVID-19 vaccines, first aid kits, medical disposables and drugs, including emergency medicines, fire extinguishers and fuel.
Given the high number of vulnerable people, there is great concern about the spread of COVID-19.
The world organisation said, Gaza crossings should be open for essential and humanitarian supplies, including fuel for basic services, supplies to curb the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure that those who need life-saving treatment can access such relief.
The humanitarian fund for the occupied Palestinian territories expects to soon release 14 million U.S. dollars, towards a response appeal to be announced by UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and Undersecretary-General, Mark Lowcock, the UN chief’s relief coordinator. — NNN-XINHUA
