Bi-Weekly Press Briefing 04 July 2023
/
2:01
/
MP4
/
148.8 MB

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Military operation in Jenin - OCHA, WHO

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.

-ends-

  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

Similar Stories

World Investment Report 2025 – Launch in Geneva

1

1

1

Edited News | UNCTAD

World Investment Report 2025 – Launch in Geneva ENG FRA

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) launched today the World Investment Report 2025. Global foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 11%, marking the second consecutive year of decline and confirming a deepening slowdown in productive capital flows, according to the report.

Human Rights Council - Iran

1

1

1

Edited News | HRC

Human Rights Council - Iran ENG FRA

As the Iran-Israel crisis continued into a sixth day, the UN deputy human rights chief Nada Al-Nashif called for urgent talks to end the continuing exchanges of missile attacks between Tehran and Tel-Aviv.

HRC Press Conference: Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan -17 June 2025

2

1

1

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC Press Conference: Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan -17 June 2025 ENG FRA

Heavy fighting in Sudan continues to escalate as a “direct result” of the continued flow of arms into the country meaning that the war is far from over, top independent human rights investigators said on Tuesday.

Gaza mass casualty incidents  WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza mass casualty incidents WHO ENG FRA

More Gazans killed trying to get food, healthcare near to ‘full disaster’

Gaza’s health system is at breaking point, overwhelmed time and again by scores of patients killed or injured near aid distribution sites, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Update on Democratic Republique of Congo to the 59th Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Update on Democratic Republique of Congo to the 59th Human Rights Council ENG FRA

La situation en République démocratique du Congo est aujourd’hui encore plus grave et alarmante, a averti lundi le Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme Volker Türk. 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Global Update to the 59th Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Global Update to the 59th Human Rights Council ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, highlighting key issues and trends, and the human rights situation in some 60 countries. 

Eastern DRC update - UNDP 13 June 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNDP

Eastern DRC update - UNDP 13 June 2025 ENG FRA

As diplomatic efforts continue to end fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN development agency (UNDP) issued an appeal on Friday on behalf of people uprooted by the violence to help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

Sudan update - WFP

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP

Sudan update - WFP ENG FRA

The very real risk of famine continues to stalk Sudan’s communities impacted by war, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday, in an appeal for more funding to support immediate needs and boost longer-term recovery across the country.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand Interview

1

1

Edited News | UNOG

Yann Arthus-Bertrand Interview ENG FRA

What can each one of us do to save the planet, asks Yann Arthus-Bertrand on World Environment Day

The last documentary film of legendary nature photographer, documentary director and environmental activist “Nature: The Call for Reconciliation” looks for an answer.

 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on attacks around aid sites in Gaza

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on attacks around aid sites in Gaza ENG FRA

“Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza, are unconscionable. For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured,” Jeremy Laurence UN Human Rights spokesperson said at the biweekly press briefing in Geneva.

Gaza aid update - OCHA 30 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA

Gaza aid update - OCHA 30 May 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza ‘hungriest place on earth’ with aid stymied – UN humanitarians

Starving Gazans continue to be deprived of aid as international relief efforts are being severely constrained by the Israeli authorities, the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA said on Friday.

Gaza humanitarian update - OCHA, UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNRWA

Gaza humanitarian update - OCHA, UNRWA ENG FRA

As a controversial United States and Israel-backed aid distribution plan gets underway in Gaza, the UN called on Tuesday for an “immediate surge” of its own pre-positioned supplies to help prevent starvation.