Aid agencies' deep concern at ongoing Israeli security operation in Jenin refugee camp

UN humanitarians expressed deep concern on Tuesday about the loss of lives and the scale and severity of injuries sustained by Palestinians amid the ongoing security operation in Jenin refugee camp in the Occupied West Bank, launched by Israeli forces on 3 July.

While aid partners have mobilized to assist, they called for a humanitarian corridor to reach injured and affected victims.

“We are alarmed at the scale of air and ground operations that are taking place in Jenin and continuing today in the West Bank, and especially on airstrikes hitting a densely populated refugee camp,” said Vanessa Huguenin, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “This is the second operation in Jenin involving airstrikes within two weeks.”

The OCHA official noted that the deaths of 10 Palestinians - including three children – had been confirmed by the Palestinian Ministry of Health on Tuesday morning. “At least 100 others have been injured, of whom 20 are reportedly in critical conditions,” Ms. Huguenin said.

She added: “The airstrikes also significantly damaged structures in which people were living both in the camp and in surrounding areas. Due to damage to infrastructure, most of the Jenin camp is currently without drinking water and the first initial estimation also indicates that most of the camp is also without electricity.”

OCHA’s reaction to the security operation followed remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose office issued a statement on Monday noting that he was “deeply concerned about the developments in Jenin” and “affirmed that all military operations must be conducted with full respect for international humanitarian law”.

The destruction of public infrastructure, including many of the roads in the refugee camp, has restricted access for medical teams and ambulances. OCHA reported that as of Monday afternoon, access to the refugee camp was mostly possible from one entrance where Israeli forces conduct checks on vehicles, including ambulances.

Health facilities have also reportedly sustained damage and health partners and have reported critical shortages of medical supplies.

“The extent of injuries places strains on the fragile and underfunded health system in Jenin,” said Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO). “WHO is working with the health teams on the ground to support the activation of the Emergency Plan for the Jenin Hospital and the mobilization of pre-positioned trauma supplies.”

At least two hospitals have been affected by violence involving ammunition and gas canisters, said the WHO.

Mr. Lindmeier also recalled that attacks against health care, including prevention of access to persons injured, were extremely concerning.

“The ambulances and first responders have been prevented from entering parts of the refugee camp, including to reach persons who have been critically injured,” said the WHO spokesperson. “There is currently no safe corridor for humanitarian access, which is a key focus of ongoing UN negotiations and the Ministry of Health has shared a list of urgently needed medical supplies, which is being reviewed by WHO and health partners.”

According to WHO, Jenin refugee camp has been the target of intensifying and recurring security operations by Israeli forces over the past two years.

The ongoing intervention in Jenin is the largest Israeli military operation on the refugee camp since 2002. Those injured are being treated at three main hospitals: Khalil Sleiman Hospital, Ibn Sina Hospital and Al Razi Hospital.

WHO data shows that there has been a significant increase in attacks on health care in 2023, particularly in the West Bank; from January to May, the UN health agency documented at least 124 attacks on health care, resulting in 39 healthworker injuries and 117 ambulances affected.

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1. Exterior medium shot: UN Palais with flags
2. Wide shot: speaker and moderator behind podium at the press conference, screens with speakers
3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Vanessa Huguenin, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “We are alarmed at the scale of air and ground operations that are taking place in Jenin and continuing today in the West Bank, and especially on airstrikes hitting a densely populated refugee camp. This is the second operation in Jenin involving air strikes within two weeks.”
4. Close shot: cameraperson filming the speaker behind podium
5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Vanessa Huguenin, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “As of this morning, the Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed the deaths of ten Palestinians, including three children. At least one hundred others have been injured, of whom twenty are reportedly in critical conditions.”
6. Wide shot: speaker and moderator behind podium, screen with speakers
7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Vanessa Huguenin, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “The airstrikes also significantly damaged structures in which people were living both in the camp and in surrounding areas. Due to damage to infrastructure, most of the Jenin camp is currently without drinking water and the first initial estimation indicates that most of the camp is also without electricity.”
8. Close shot: speaker in the foreground, screen with speakers in the background
9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, Spokesperson for the World Health Organisation (WHO): “The extent of injuries places strains on the fragile and underfunded health system in Jenin. WHO is working with the health teams on the ground to support the activation of the Emergency Plan for the Jenin Hospital and the mobilization of pre-positioned trauma supplies.”
10. Medium shot: camera in the foreground, speakers and attendees in the background
11. SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, Spokesperson for the World Health Organisation (WHO): “The ambulances and first respondents have been prevented from entering parts of the refugee camp, including to reach persons who have been critically injured. There is currently no safe corridor for humanitarian access, which is a key focus of ongoing UN negotiations. And the Ministry of Health has shared a list of urgently needed medical supplies, which is being reviewed by WHO and health partners.”
12. Wide shot: speakers in the foreground, moderator’s laptop in the foreground
13. Close shot: attendees taking notes
14. Medium shot: attendees taking notes