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
Press Conferences | OCHA
Embargoed until Monday, December 8, at midnight (NY)/6:00am (Geneva)
Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, on funding requirements ahead of the release of the 2026 Global Humanitarian Overview
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango delivered the following remarks on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
The humanitarian situation in northern Mozambique continues to deteriorate sharply as prolonged attacks by non-State armed groups in Nampula trigger one of the largest displacement surges of the year, the UN warned on Friday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNESCO , OCHA , UNICEF , IFRC , FAO , OHCHR , IPU
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Food and Agricultural Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to announce findings on Burundi, Guatemala, Maldives, New Zealand, Sweden and Tunisia
1
1
Edited News | UNMAS
The deadly legacy of conflicts old and new from Gaza to Sudan and beyond continues to kill and maim civilians on a near-daily basis, mine action workers said on Wednesday, as they appealed for greater support for their lifesaving work in a context of deep funding cuts.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNMAS
Protecting people from mines and other explosive ordnance in complex settings
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNODA
Twenty-Second Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO , UNICEF
Asia: Lives upended in cyclone disasters, ‘extreme’ rainfall on the rise - UN agencies
Across southeast Asia, record-breaking rains and flooding caused by back-to-back tropical storms have claimed hundreds of lives and brought devastation and displacement upon entire communities, UN agencies said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | ITU , UNDP , UNHCR , WMO
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Development Programme, the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the International Telecommunication Union.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNIDIR
Landmine Monitor 2025 report launch
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the bi-weekly press briefing in the Geneva on Friday the UN Human Rights Office raised grave concerns about the recent constitutional amendments adopted in Pakistan.