The Impact of Israeli Attacks Widens, Increasing the Need for Palestinian Aid Funding

The Israel-Hamas war, raging since October 7, 2023, shows no sign of abating. The number of victims continues to rise.

According to data compiled by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of November 6, 2023, Israeli attacks have killed more than 10,000 Palestinians and injured more than 25,400.

Beyond the casualties, Israeli attacks have forced millions of Palestinians to flee their homes, either because their homes have been destroyed or due to fear and lack of essential supplies.

OCHA reports that, as of November 6, 2023, the number of displaced persons in Gaza has exceeded 1.5 million.

Approximately 717,000 displaced persons are sheltering in 149 UNRWA-run shelters, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Around 122,000 are sheltering in hospitals, churches, and other public facilities; 110,000 are in non-UNRWA shelters; and the remainder are scattered among relatives' homes or other locations.

Conditions for the displaced are reportedly worsening, particularly in the overcrowded UNRWA shelters.

"Overcrowded displacement sites remain a major concern. More than 557,000 people are sheltering in 92 UNRWA facilities in southern Gaza, which are unable to accommodate new arrivals," OCHA stated in a press release on Monday, November 6, 2023.

"The Khan Younis Training Centre, the most overcrowded UNRWA shelter, is housing more than 22,000 displaced persons, with less than two square meters of space per person, and at least 600 people sharing one toilet."

"Deteriorating sanitation conditions, as well as lack of privacy and space, pose significant health and safety risks. Thousands of cases of acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, and chickenpox have been reported among displaced persons in UNRWA shelters," it continued.

Palestine Needs Rp19 Trillion in Aid

Amidst this situation, OCHA estimates that approximately 2.7 million Palestinians require urgent humanitarian assistance.

The total estimated funding needs as of November 6, 2023, are US$1.23 billion, or approximately Rp19 trillion (assuming an exchange rate of Rp15,580 per US$).

This figure represents a significant increase from the initial estimate. Previously, on October 12, 2023, OCHA estimated that 1.3 million Palestinians needed urgent assistance, with total funding needs of US$294 million, or approximately Rp4.6 trillion.

This surge in needs is attributed to the escalating war, which continues to threaten the lives of an increasing number of people.

"We have identified funding needs of approximately US$1.2 billion to meet the urgent needs of 2.7 million Palestinians – 2.2 million in Gaza and 500,000 in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem – for the period October–December 2023," OCHA stated in its press release on Monday, November 6, 2023.

"This funding is the minimum required to prevent further loss of life, given the ongoing siege and bombardment of Gaza and the escalation of conflict in the West Bank," it added.

OCHA details that the majority of this aid is needed for food assistance (24.7%), health (18.5%), shelter (17.0%), and water, sanitation, and hygiene (12.1%).