Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #68. Dec. 13
As of 12 December, according to UNRWA, almost 1.9 million people in Gaza, or nearly 85 per cent of the population, are estimated to be internally displaced, many of them have been displaced multiple times.
As of 11 December, nearly 1.3 million of these IDPs were registered in 155 UNRWA facilities across Gaza, including more than 1.1 million in 98 UNRWA shelters in the Middle Area, Khan Younis and Rafah governorates. Obtaining an accurate total is challenging, given the difficulties involved in tracking IDPs staying with host families, the renewed movement of IDPs following evacuation orders since 1 December, and the evacuation of five UNRWA shelters on the orders of the Israeli military in eastern Khan Younis on 6 December.
Due to the overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions at UNRWA shelters in the south, there have been significant increases in some communicable diseases and conditions such as diarrhea, influenza, chicken pox, meningitis, jaundice, impetigo acute respiratory infections, skin infections and hygiene-related conditions like lice.
On average, UNRWA shelters south of Wadi Gaza are sheltering nine times their intended IDP capacity.
Read the full report: Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #68
A 6-year-old displaced boy in southern Gaza, where heavy rains have worsened the already dreadful living conditions of people staying outdoors, adding to the risk of waterborne diseases. Photo by UNICEF/El-Baba, 6 December 2023
Once a year, the Alliance asks for your support.
Friends,
In this dark time, we turn to each other for support. While what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank feels unbearable, we are buoyed by public sentiment: According to a Reuters poll in mid-November, 68% of Americans favor a cease fire.
Because we know that the demonstrations, standouts, letters to the editor, and scenes of Gaza’s devastation are helping to sway public opinion, we have intensified our education, agitation, and organizing.
The reach of our social media work has significantly expanded. The number of our followers on Facebook and Twitter has steadily increased and we have a new Instagram account. (waterpalestine). Visits to our website is up 66% in the last month, including people from 78 different countries. Daily updates from the U.N., photos from demonstrations, and images of resistance and solidarity are featured on our blog. In addition, 500 people have already signed up for our emailed Water Facts, a bi-monthly summary on different current aspects of life and death in Palestine.
In Massachusetts, we
initiated a centralized list for 20 local Palestine solidarity organizations and many individuals to publicize standouts and demonstrations.
distributed 75 yard signs in the greater Boston area and the South Shore.
collaborated with other justice groups in a sustained effort to educate and hold our elected officials accountable.
Our members are tireless, but our work also requires money. We need your support to create timely new banners, produce more lawn signs, pay for our social medial work, print leaflets and other educational resources and develop even more creative ways to do public education.
We will not stop. Please continue to stand with us.
The Alliance
P.S. You can donate through our website. Your gift to the Alliance is tax-exempt.
Visualizing Palestine
from the wonderful folks at “Visualizing Palestine”:
Do you want to learn more about how the human geography of Gaza (or other parts of historic Palestine) has changed over 75 years of Israeli settler colonialism, ongoing displacement, and systemic violence? Use Palestine Open Maps (POM), to explore, search, and download historical maps of Gaza and other parts of Palestine before and after the Nakba.
Special thanks to Ahmad Barclay and Majd Al-Shihabi for their leading efforts on this platform! Access it here: https://palopenmaps.org/en