Emergency Manager's Weekly Report

Sep 125 min read

Israel/Hamas War Situation Report #61

Military and Diplomatic Highlights:

· The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has killed several terrorists between September 7-12:

o Ahmad Al-Jabr with Hezbollah Golan Network

o Abdallah abu Reala with the Hamas Shati Battalion

o Ayman Khaled Ahmed Abu Allahyani

o ⁠Samer Ismail Khadr Abu Daqqa, Head of Hamas’ Aerial Unit in Gaza

o Osama Tabesh: Head of the Hamas Observation and Targets Department

o Ayman Mabhouh: Senior Hamas Terrorist

o Abdallah Khatib, Commander of the Islamic Jihad’s Southern Deir al-Balah Battalion

o Hatem Abu Aljidian, Commander of the Islamic Jihad’s Eastern Deir al-Balah Battalion

· On September 11th, an Israeli Air Force helicopter which was on a mission to evacuate an injured soldier to a hospital for medical treatment, crashed while landing in the Rafah area in Gaza:

o The crash was not caused by enemy fire.

o Two IDF soldiers were killed in the crash.

Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights:

· According to the UN, at least 1.9 million people (nine in ten people) are internally displaced, including people who have been repeatedly displaced.

· On September 9th, the IDF issued a new evacuation order, the first since August 25th, affecting four neighborhoods in northwest Beit Lahia and Jabalya in northern Gaza:

o Initial mapping indicates that, before October 7th, over 28,000 people were residing in these areas, with most reportedly forced out by previous evacuation orders and ongoing hostilities.

o Parts of these areas have been designated to be included in the ongoing polio vaccination campaign.

· On September 12th, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) was prevented by the IDF from entering the Tulkarm camp to transport patients to the hospital, despite prior coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Upon the IDFs withdraw the PRCS entered the camp and began distributing food supplies to the affected families.

· Healthcare and Public Health Update:

o The Health Cluster reports that about 50% of essential medicines are not available, and primary health-care centers are facing critically low levels of insulin.

o Routine vaccines such as Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) to protect infants from tuberculosis, and DTP to immunize them against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, are also nearly exhausted.

o On September 1st, the World Health Organization (WHO) was able to reach the Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals in northern Gaza to provide medications and supplies as well as 20 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds to expand inpatient capacity at the Indonesian Hospital. Items delivered included:

ü Oncology medication for 200 patients

ü Immunosuppressants covering the needs of 500 patients for three months

ü Psychotropics to support 400 patients with mental health disorders.

ü The mission also facilitated the deployment of a new Emergency Medical Team (EMT) to the Indonesian Hospital and the rotation to different medical facilities of an EMT pediatric surgeon, who had performed over 300 specialized surgeries, including tumor resections, from the Kamal Adwan Hospital to southern Gaza.

o The health facilities in northern Gaza continue to face severe fuel shortages:

ü On September 9th, the Director of the Indonesian Hospital warned that, due to the acute scarcity of diesel fuel, the facility was forced to suspend several services to prolong operating hours.

ü The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) similarly informed that its teams in the Gaza and North Gaza governorates are operating at minimum capacity due to critical fuel shortages which have been ongoing for nearly three weeks.

o Polio Vaccination Update:

ü Vaccination operations in Southern Gaza have concluded as of September 9th with over 446,000 children being vaccinated.

ü Five health facilities will continue offering polio vaccinations.

ü Operations in Northern Gaza concluded on September 12th.

o On September 11th, WHO in partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the PRCS evacuated 97 patients and 155 companions to the UAE for specialized care:

ü The patients included 45 children and 52 adults with a wide range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, congenital anomalies, blood and liver diseases and trauma/injuries.

· Food Security Update:

o The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) satellite analysis shows that 70% of cropland across the Gaza Strip has been damaged.

o An estimated 7,355-8,129 Metric Tons (MT) of humanitarian food assistance entered Gaza in August, compared to an estimated 8,294–9,167 MT in July.

o Commercial Food Deliveries:

ü Data for commercial food entering Gaza in August is only available for Kerem Shalom from Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). An estimated 48,583–53,697 MT of commercial food is reported to have been approved for entry through the southern gate in August.

ü Reported commercial food approved for entry by COGAT rose substantially in May and has remained high in all subsequent months. Continued reports of challenges in financial and physical access to markets, as well as some continued food availability challenges, however, indicate that increased commercial food does not necessarily equate to improved food access.

ü In August, markets were strained, with elevated prices, availability challenges, insecurity, and access constraints.

· Aid operations in Gaza continue to be disrupted by network outages:

o On September 8th, internet service was cut off for about five hours in central and southern Gaza.

o The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) is also struggling to deliver services due to severe limitations pertaining to the import of equipment.

Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Highlights:

· As of September 11th, 220 UNRWA personnel have been killed.

· The UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that on September 10th the Israeli Security Forces (ISF) stopped a UN convoy on its way to northern Gaza for more than eight hours despite prior detailed coordination:

o The convoy had both national and international staff traveling to roll out the polio vaccination campaign for children in Gaza city and northern Gaza.

o The convoy was stopped at gun point just after the Wadi Gaza checkpoint with threats to detain UN staff.

o UN armored vehicles were heavily damaged by Israeli bulldozers.

o The UN convoy was later released and returned to their base.

· On September 11th, the PRCS reported that the IDF confiscated five bulletproof vests bearing the Red Crescent emblem.

Sources:

· UNRWA Situation Report #135 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information from 6 - 10 September 2024, valid as of 10 September 2024 at 22:30 (local time)

· Humanitarian Situation Update #215 | Gaza Strip

· Gaza food supply assessment, as of August 31, 2024

· Israeli Defense Forces Twitter Page

· Palestine Red Crescent Society Twitter Page

· WHO Occupied Territories Twitter Page

· UN Agency for Palestine Refugees Twitter Page