The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
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-
- Exterior medium shot: UN Palais with flags
- Wide shot: speaker and moderator behind podium at the press conference, screens with speakers
- 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.”
- Close shot: cameraperson filming the speaker behind podium
- 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.”
- Wide shot: speaker and moderator behind podium, screen with speakers
- 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.”
- Close shot: speaker in the foreground, screen with speakers in the background
- 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.”
- Medium shot: camera in the foreground, speakers and attendees in the background
- 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.”
- Wide shot: speakers in the foreground, moderator’s laptop in the foreground
- Close shot: attendees taking notes
- Medium shot: attendees taking notes
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | UNFPA , IFRC
Lebanon faces escalating violence, with new mothers uncertain of safety amid ongoing crises.
1
1
1
Edited News | FAO , UNHCR , WHO
Sudan: 14 million displaced; hunger and attacks on health continue as war enters fourth year
As Sudan approaches the third anniversary of a brutal civil war, millions remain displaced and hungry while the health system lies in ruins, with no end to the violence in sight, UN agencies said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , UNHCR , WFP
Lebanon: People ‘still under the rubble’ after massive strikes as ambulances, hospitals come under threat – UN humanitarians
With Lebanon still reeling from Israel’s devastating airstrikes on 8 April, UN humanitarians reported new fears of attacks on ambulances and looming food shortages in the south of the country on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR , WHO
Lebanon: disease risks on the rise as displacement surges
With displacement in Lebanon past the one million mark, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday about the spread of infectious diseases in shelters and surging mental health needs.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNIFIL
UN peacekeepers are supporting civilians who’ve chosen to stay in the south amid deadly dangers from Israel-Hezbollah clashes, UNIFIL spokesperson Kandace Ardiel tells us.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR , WFP
Middle East war fallout: Hundreds of thousands flee Lebanon to Syria; vital food aid blocked – UN agencies
The trauma of mass displacement and humanitarian supply chain disruptions throughout the world are among the devastating impacts of the war raging in the Middle East, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA
Bitterness, sadness and pride for UNRWA staff, says departing chief
Asking the softly spoken, veteran humanitarian worker Philippe Lazzarini how he feels as he comes to the end of his second term as the head of the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, is perhaps an unfair question.
1
1
1
Edited News | IFRC , UN WOMEN , UNHCR , UNICEF , WHO
Middle East war causes civilian terror and disrupts aid, but some relief efforts resume.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk addressed the Human Rights Council, delivering a video statement on the strike that hit a girls school in Minab, Iran recently, calling for accountability and protection of children.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
A new UN Human Rights report published on Tuesday details the human rights impacts of the expanding reach of gangs in Haiti. According to data verified by the Office, at least 5,519 people were killed in Haiti, and 2,608 were injured between 1 March 2025 and 15 January 2026.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights spokesperson Marta Hurtado on Tuesday described the deadly impact of drone strikes in Sudan.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , OHCHR
Sudan: Hospital strike highlights surge in drone attacks on civilians
The death toll from a horrific attack on a hospital in Sudan’s Darfur has risen further, amid a “sharp increase” in drone attacks against civilians this year, UN agencies said on Tuesday.