As winter approaches, UN humanitarians this week answered a distress call from Civil Defense teams in Gaza City’s Tufah neighborhood, coordinating the rescue of dozens of injured residents amid ongoing attacks across all five Gaza governorates.
On Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) mobilized local and international partners to support Civil Defense crews. While the specifics of the call remain unclear, teams worked through damaged streets to ensure rapid extraction and first aid.
The World Health Organization led a medical evacuation, transporting 18 patients and 54 companions abroad for treatment. WHO warns that more than 16,500 patients still require life-saving care that cannot be provided inside Gaza.
With winter fast approaching, humanitarian agencies have ramped up efforts to deliver cold-weather essentials. In the past two months, partners have distributed tens of thousands of items – including shoes, clothes, blankets and towels – to vulnerable children across the Gaza Strip.
OCHA has reiterated its call to open all available border crossings and corridors, urging unhindered access for patients seeking care in the West Bank and for international medical teams to enter Gaza.
Meanwhile, in the northern West Bank governorates of Tubas and Jenin, OCHA reports that recent Israeli force operations have displaced nearly two dozen Palestinian families, damaged water networks and shuttered local businesses. Many homes have been repurposed as military observation posts, raising concerns over civilian safety and access to basic services.
The combined challenges in Gaza and the West Bank highlight an urgent need for increased aid delivery and protection for civilians as the region prepares for winter.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
