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 15 – 21 April 2026 [1] Days 920 – 926 since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip Highlights The Gaza Strip Israeli forces’ activities reportedly escalated, including trench digging and earth mounds, restricting vehicle movement and limiting crossing between the Israeli-militarised zone marked by the so-called “Yellow Line” and other parts of the Gaza Strip. Airstrikes, shelling, and gunfire continue across residential areas, reportedly resulting in civilian casualties and damage to critical facilities. There are continued reports of environmental hazards, including pests and rodents, affecting residential areas across the Gaza Strip. Lack of chemical supplies for pest and rodent control remains a critical constraint to addressing the problem, as does a lack of lubricant oil that may reduce generator-supported waste and sewage operations in the near term and thereby increase public health risks. OCHA reports that the amount of aid entering the Gaza Strip fell by 37 per cent in January to March, compared to the first three-months of the ceasefire that has been in place since 10 October 2025. This coincides with reduced crossing operations, increased cargo returns, scanning malfunctions and other challenges. Key points The Gaza Strip Fatalities and injuries Between 7 October 2023 and 15 April 2026, according to the Ministry of Health, as reported by OCHA, 72, 344 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip and another 172, 242 injured. UNRWA has recorded 391 colleagues killed in Gaza since the start of the war (310 UNRWA personnel, and 81 persons who were supporting UNRWA [2] ), up to 31 March. Health crisis UNRWA teams have observed an increase in cases of ectoparasitic infection and chickenpox, with challenges in securing medication and pesticides affecting the ability to control the problem. UNRWA continues to closely monitor the trend in infectious diseases across multiple collective emergency shelters, with heightened risks related to overcrowding, deteriorating wastewater systems, shortages of hygiene supplies on the local market, and restrictions on the entry of chemical products. Displacement, Site management UNRWA continues to monitor the movement of displaced persons and displacement sites. An estimated 67, 000 displaced people are living in 83 collective emergency shelters managed by the Agency. Currently, 127 UNRWA facilities are located within the Israeli-militarised zone behind the so-called “Yellow Line” and in areas where access is subject to Israeli approval or coordination. Operational implications and humanitarian response Around 11, 000 Palestinian UNRWA personnel continue to provide services and assistance to people in Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, UNRWA continues to play a central role with over 4, 000 UNRWA Palestinian personnel providing education, health, and other services to Palestine Refugees. All UNRWA international staff are prevented from entering the Occupied Palestinian Territory – the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This follows the implementation of laws passed by the Israeli parliament on 28 October 2024 [3] that purport to prohibit UNRWA’s operations in areas that Israel considers its sovereign territory, including occupied East Jerusalem, and seek to bar any contact by Israeli officials with UNRWA. The Israeli authorities have not granted the Agency’s international staff visas or permits to enter the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Gaza, since the end of January 2025. Since March 2025, the Israeli authorities have been blocking UNRWA from directly bringing humanitarian personnel and aid into the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, pre-positioned outside Gaza, UNRWA has enough food parcels, flour, and shelter supplies for hundreds of thousands of people.
UNRWA Situation Report #218 on the Humanitarian Crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem) [EN/AR]
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