The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UN aid office issues alert for 60 Palestinian herding communities affected by settler violence
An urgent needs assessment is under way for dozens of Palestinian herding communities across the Occupied Palestinian Territory after an increase in Israeli settler violence, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Friday.
“In the first six months of 2023, the UN has recorded 591 settler-related incidents resulting in Palestinian casualties, property damage, both. That’s a monthly average of 99 incidents this year,” said Jens Laerke, OCHA spokesperson.
Speaking at a scheduled briefing in Geneva, Mr. Laerke noted that this represented a 39 per cent increase on 2022, when the monthly average was 71 incidents. Last year’s tally was already the highest since OCHA started recording incidents in 2006.
A total of 60 herding communities are now under assessment.
“Palestinian herding communities are particularly vulnerable to these and other settlement activities,” said Mr. Laerke. “This year and last, OCHA has documented the displacement of at least 399 people from settler violence from seven Palestinian herding communities across the OPT. Three of these communities are called Al Baqa’a, Khirbet Bir al'Idd and Wedadiye (and) are now completely empty.”
Mr. Laerke added that the reason for the herders leaving was “most often settler activities, including violence and settlement expansion which results in the loss of their access to grazing lands. Other reasons include the threat of demolition of their homes and other properties by the Israeli authorities.”
OCHA data indicates that 224 children and 175 adults are among the 399 people impacted by displacement linked to settler violence-related from seven Palestinian herding communities across the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
“Many communities across the West Bank, for example, are at risk of forcible transfer due to a coercive environment that includes the demolitions, settler activities and other practices,” Mr. Laerke said. “For the record: Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. They deepen humanitarian needs due to their impact on people’s livelihoods, food security and access to essential services.”
Set to be finalized in September, the needs assessments will inform the UN and its partners on the type of assistance that will best support herders and their families.
-ends-
TRT: 02:09"
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: NATS
DATELINE: 04 AUGUST 2023, GENEVA
- Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying.
- Wide shot, podium with speaker in Press briefing room, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) —Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “In the first six months of 2023, the UN has recorded 591 settler-related incidents resulting in Palestinian casualties, property damage, both. That’s a monthly average of 99 incidents this year.”
- Medium shot, speakers at the podium filmed from the side
- SOUNDBITE (English) —Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “Palestinian herding communities are particularly vulnerable to these and other settlement activities. This year and last, OCHA has documented the displacement of at least 399 people from settler violence from seven Palestinian herding communities across the OPT. Three of these communities are called Al Baqa’a, Khirbet Bir al'Idd and Wedadiye are now completely empty.”
- Medium shot, camera woman
- SOUNDBITE (English) —Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “The reason for the herders leaving what they cite most often is settler activities, including violence and settlement expansion which results in the loss of their access to grazing lands. Other reasons include the threat of demolition of their homes and other properties by the Israeli authorities.”
- Medium shot, webcast operator
- SOUNDBITE (English) —Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “Many communities across the West Bank, for example, are at risk of forcible transfer due to a coercive environment that includes the demolitions, settler activities and other practices. For the record: Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. They deepen humanitarian needs due to their impact on people’s livelihoods, food security and access to essential services.”
- Close up, typing in laptop
- Wide shot, camerawoman filming with screens on the left side of the press room
- Close up, journalist listening
- Wide shot, press briefing room with speaker at the podium and journalists
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today told the bi-weekly UN press briefing in Geneva of more details that are emerging on the atrocities committed in El Fasher, in Sudan during and after its takeover by the Rapid Support Forces.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , WHO
Sudan: UN Raises Alarm Over Mass Atrocities in El Fasher as Survivors Report Executions, Killings and Rapes
More details continue to emerge about atrocities committed during and after the fall of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan on 23 October. Since the powerful paramilitary group made a major incursion into the city last week, the UN Human Rights Office has received “horrendous accounts of summary executions, mass killings, rapes, attacks against humanitarian workers, looting, abductions and forced displacement,” said Seif Magango, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR , UNDP , WFP , WHO
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
Ukraine: Russian attacks on energy terrorize population as winter starts; could trigger major ‘crisis within crisis’
The UN’s top aid official in Ukraine expressed concern on Friday about “continuous attacks” on energy production sites and distribution facilities.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA
The humanitarian situation In Ukraine: winter response, the energy crisis and next steps
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The telecommunications shutdowns in Afghanistan in September had serious and far-reaching impacts on people’s lives, according to a briefing paper published today by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence at the UN Geneva press briefing made the following comment on the ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , OCHA , OHCHR , UNCTAD , UNHCR , UNOG , WHO , WMO
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the World Meteorological Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
1
1
1
Edited News | IFRC , OCHA , WMO
‘Catastrophic’ Hurricane Melissa hours from landfall in Jamaica as humanitarians rush to save lives
Millions in Jamaica and across the Caribbean are bracing for massive impact from Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday as the UN and partners are warning of a “severe” and “immediate” humanitarian threat.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNEP
UNEP Press conference: Minamata Convention on Mercury COP6