oPt: UNRWA Situation Report #223 on the Humanitarian Crisis in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem [EN/AR]

Country: occupied Palestinian territory Source: UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Please refer to the attached files. All information updated for 20 - 25 May 2026 [1] Days 955 - 960 since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip Highlights The Gaza Strip The Gaza Strip has seen a renewed military escalation over recent weeks, with increasing civilian casualties and displacement of people. Israeli forces have issued multiple evacuation orders as well as shelter-in-place orders in areas west of the Israeli-militarised “Yellow Line” zone, including in Gaza City, Der al Balah, Maghazi, Bureij, and Nuseirat. Shelter-in-place orders have also affected two UNRWA installations, including a school-turned-shelter in Nuseirat, hosting displaced people. UNRWA medical surveillance teams continue to report an increase in ectoparasitic infections, such as scabies, as well as rodent bites, chickenpox cases, and acute watery diarrhoea among both children under five years and individuals above five years. When briefing about her recent visit to Gaza, the WHO’s representative in the OPT, Dr. Renee Van de Weerdt stated that dire conditions in Gaza marked by continuing violence, rodent infestations and the spread of infectious disease are being made worse by blockages of essential medical supplies. Furthermore, she insisted that “nobody can replace what UNRWA is doing.” Nutrition partners observed a 21 per cent increase in malnutrition admissions between January – April 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, despite the ceasefire. On 20 May, UNRWA began operating a new Temporary Learning Space (TLS) at a displacement site south of Khan Younis, marking the first TLS established in a location where there are no operational UNRWA installations. Within a week...

Original source: Relief Web