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 | UNICEF
Ukraine has sustained almost 2,000 attacks on education since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, with some 270 this year alone, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | ILO , ITU , UNFPA , UNICEF , WHO
UNICEF: Education Cannot Wait (ECW) High-Level Replenishment Conference - mobilising funding for education for children affected by crises; Children in Ukraine have two-thirds of school hours disrupted by daily air-raid alarms. UNFPA: Yemen: conditions for women and girls in the besieged city of Taizz and in IDP camps; the status of maternal health facilities/services in Taizz City and in other conflict-affected areas. ILO: “Women in Business and Management report: Scaling Success". ITU: Facts and Figures 2026 report on global digital connectivity. WMO and International Ski and Snowboard Federation new guide on weather and climate services for ski resorts; WMO State of Climate Update at COP31
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR
More than 280,000 people have now been displaced by fighting in Yemen and many vulnerable people are unable to access lifesaving relief because it is too dangerous to do so, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , UN , UNHCR
UN Joint Inspection Unit: JIU at 60 - Who Holds the UN System Accountable? From Recommendations to Results – How Independent System-wide Oversight Contributes to Change; UNHCR: UNHCR winter appeal: 9m people urgently need winter aid as resources dwindle and temperatures slide; Refugees in Yemen trapped between conflict, displacement and dangerous journeys
1
1
1
Edited News | UN
Tour guides at UN Geneva turned heads at the Palace of Nations on Thursday as they unveiled stylish new uniforms, designed in partnership with leading Italian sustainable fashion designers and manufacturers.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WMO , UNHCR , WHO , ILO
WMO: Greenhouse Gas Bulletin; UNHCR: As attacks intensify UNHCR urges support for war ravaged Ukrainians; WHO: Clinical trials in DRC: vaccines and beyond; ILO: New global and regional estimates on domestic work, informality and working conditions
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WFP
Aid agencies warned on Friday of the fast-developing humanitarian emergency inside Taiz City in Yemen, which has been encircled by de facto Houthi forces fighting government troops along the country’s west coast.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UN WOMEN , WFP , WHO
UN WOMEN: Sudan Women and girls one year after the fall of El Fasher; increasing drone attacks across the country; WFP: DRC - Ebola spreads to eighth DRC province as WFP delivers food, builds treatment centres and keeps supplies moving; WHO - Update on Ebola (Bundibugyo Virus Disease)
1
12
1
1
Press Conferences , Images | UNOG
Closing Press Conference following the Sixth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan
2
17
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences , Images | OCHA , WMO
Two UN agencies teamed up on Wednesday to issue an appeal for immediate assistance to help communities already being impacted by the strongest El Niño on record.
3
16
2
2
Edited News , B-roll , Conferences , Images | UNITED NATIONS , UNOG
Sixth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts for Sudan
1
1
1
Press Conferences | CITES
Wildlife trade and conservation policy discussions at the 81st meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (SC81)