UNRWA Situation Report on the Crisis in Gaza and West Bank

Forcibly displaced people seek shelter in a destroyed UNRWA school in Gaza City, the Gaza Strip, June 2025

Highlights

• Since the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza on the night between 17 and 18 March 2025, intense Israeli Forces activities escalated, resulting in tens of thousands of civilians reportedly killed and injured, further damage and destruction to civilian infrastructure, and new waves of forced displacement.

• According to OCHA, people are confined to ever-shrinking spaces, with 82.4 per cent of the Gaza Strip now within the Israeli-militarized zone, under displacement orders, or where these overlap. The UN estimates that over 680,000  people have been displaced yet again since the breakdown of the ceasefire, including over 242,000 between 15 May and 17 June.

• According to the latest FAO-WFP Hunger Hotspots report, the risk of famine in the Gaza Strip is becoming increasingly likely due to the ongoing military operations, forced displacement, and severe limitations imposed on the humanitarian response. The Nutrition Cluster also warned that rates of acute malnutrition have sharply increased among children aged six to 59 months across all governorates.

• Mass casualties among people trying to access food supplies continue being reported. On 17 June, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini posted on X (previously known as Twitter) that “It is now the new routine to shoot and kill desperate and starving people while they try to collect little food from a company made of mercenaries”, adding that “Inviting people to their death is a war crime.”

• The fuel crisis in the Gaza Strip has reached deeply worrisome levels. Humanitarian organisations warn that without the immediate entry of fuel, lifesaving and life-sustaining services are at risk of shutting down imminently.

• OCHA reported that, on 16 and 17 June, a fiber optic cable cut along the Khan Younis route caused a complete internet connectivity outage and the disruption of mobile services in southern and central Gaza.

• The health response in the Gaza Strip continues to face severe operational challenges, including extensive damage to health facilities, obstacles to safe movements and restrictions on the entry of medical supplies and critical fuel. UNRWA medical services are critically under-resourced, with nearly half of medical supplies already out of stock and over one fifth projected to run out in less than two months.

• Since the escalation between Iran and Israel started on 13 June, missile debris and interceptor shrapnel in the West Bank have fallen inside the premises of at least two UNRWA schools and one UNRWA training centre in Ramallah and Qalqiliya, without causing injuries.

• Mass demolitions have continued in the northern West Bank, with bulldozing of buildings occurring in Jenin and Tulkarm camps, in execution of mass demolition orders previously issued by Israeli Forces, including those of 1 May (for Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps) and 9 June (for Jenin Camp).

Key points

The Gaza Strip

• Since the night between 17 and 18 March, the Israeli Forces have escalated bombardments from air, land and sea across the Gaza Strip and expanded ground operations, resulting in tens of thousands of reported casualties, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and large-scale displacement. People are living in inhumane conditions, seeking shelter anywhere they can, including damaged or destroyed buildings, overcrowded displacement sites, and open areas. According to OCHA, fighting between the Israeli Forces and Palestinian armed groups has been reported.

• Since 19 May, after almost 80 days of siege on the entry of aid and any other supplies into the Gaza Strip – including food, medicine and fuel, the Israeli authorities have allowed only a select number of UN agencies and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to resume the delivery of limited aid into Gaza. However, the entry of aid has remained challenging. OCHA reported that among the limited number of trucks that were collected from crossing points for distribution inside Gaza since the total siege was lifted, only a small fraction was delivered to the intended destinations due to obstacles to humanitarian aid delivery. UNRWA has not been able to bring in any supplies for more than three months (since 2 March). No fuel has been allowed into Gaza since 2 March.

• According to OCHA, humanitarian actors have managed to bring in around 9,000 metric tons (MT) of wheat flour into Gaza as of 16 June, equivalent to 360,000 25-kilogramme bags. However, most of this aid has been offloaded by civilians in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, and, in some cases, seized by armed actors, before reaching their intended destinations.

• The latest Market Monitor published by the World Food Programme highlighted that prices of the very limited and still available food items in Gaza continue to increase at an alarming rate, with the population suffering from a further deteriorated diet, severely deficient in essential nutrients. The WFP reported that the dietary diversity is now collapsing to its lowest level since the beginning of the conflict, adding that cooking gas, diesel and gasoline remain largely unavailable and can only be found in small quantities on the black market for very high prices.

• According OCHA, mass casualties continue being reported among people attempting to access food  in the Gaza Strip, including as they approach or gather at militarized distribution points in Rafah and Deir al-Balah or wait for trucks carrying UN aid supplies. According to OCHA, as of 17 June, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported that 397 people were killed and at least 3,031 injured trying to access food supplies.

• On 17 June, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini posted on X (previously known as Twitter) that “It is now the new routine to shoot and kill desperate and starving people while they try to collect little food from a company made of mercenaries”, adding that “Inviting people to their death is a war crime.”

• According to the latest FAO-WFP Hunger Hotspots report, the risk of famine in the Gaza Strip is becoming increasingly likely due to the ongoing military operations, forced displacement, and severe limitations imposed on the humanitarian response. The analysis highlights that, over a year and a half into the conflict, approximately 80 per cent of cropland in the Gaza Strip had been damaged and around 83 per cent of agricultural wells rendered inoperative. This was coupled with extensive losses in agricultural and fishing capacity, that are expected to further constrain food supply availability throughout 2025.

• The Nutrition Cluster warned that rates of acute malnutrition have sharply increased among children aged six to 59 months across all governorates. According to OCHA, between March and May, proxy rates of acute malnutrition have more than doubled: in Gaza city the rates multiplied by 1.7, in Khan Younis by 2.2, in Deir al Balah by 2.8, and in North Gaza by 2. No data is currently available for Rafah due to active displacement orders.

• The restrictions on the entry of fuel – now entering its fourth month, continue placing life-sustaining services at a severe risk. Humanitarian actors including UNRWA are implementing strict ration measures with, but critical health and WASH services are at risk of shutting down if the entry of fuel is not urgently allowed.

• OCHA reported that, on 16 and 17 June, a fiber optic cable cut along the Khan Younis route caused a complete internet connectivity outage and the disruption of mobile services in southern and central Gaza. Although repairs on 16 June enabled the temporary restoration of connectivity services in the area, data speed remained limited. Another subsequent fiber optic cable cut on 17 June, which is yet to be repaired, has left Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah without access to mobile, landline and internet services. The telecommunications service providers warn that without the immediate supply of fuel and engine oil to operate generators of key infrastructure, communications services are expected to shut down imminently. This could lead to a complete collapse of telecommunications and internet services across Gaza.

• The health response in the Gaza Strip continues to face severe operational challenges, including extensive damage to health facilities, obstacles to safe movements and restrictions on the entry of medical supplies and critical fuel. UNRWA medical services are critically under-resourced. Nearly half (or 49 per cent) of essential medical supplies are already out of stock and over one fifth (21 per cent) are projected to run out in under two months. The affected supplies include medicine for non-communicable diseases, antimicrobials and antiparasitic products, dermatological and eyes preparations, analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications, gastrointestinal products, respiratory medications, and family planning methods.

• All UNRWA international staff are banned from entering the Gaza Strip since the few remaining left at the end of March. This follows the passage of two laws by Israel’s parliament, (The Knesset), on 28 October 2024[2], which aimed to prohibit UNRWA’s operations in “Israeli territory” and bar any contact between UNRWA and Israeli officials.

• Meanwhile, around 12,000 Palestinian UNRWA personnel in Gaza continue to provide services and assistance to an entire population in need, while spearheading the collective humanitarian response. In the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem, over 4,000 UNRWA Palestinian local staff continue to provide education, health and other services to Palestine Refugees. No visas have been issued from the Government of Israel to UNRWA international staff since end of January 2025.

• With at least 42 displacement orders issued by the Israeli military since 18 March, about 279.5 square kilometres of the Gaza Strip are now under active displacement orders (the total area of the Gaza Strip is approximately 365 square kilometres). According to OCHA, over four-fifths (or 82.4 per cent) of the Gaza Strip are within the Israeli-militarized zone, under displacement orders, or where these overlap. The UN estimates that over 680,000 people have been displaced yet again since the breakdown of the ceasefire (mid-March), including over 242,000 between 15 May and 17 June alone.

• Between 11 and 17 June, five displacement orders and one designated Israeli-militarized zones affecting UNRWA installations were issued by Israeli Forces.

o On 17 June, the Israeli Forces issued a displacement order impacting areas of northwest Khan Younis (Al Jalaa, Hamad City and Qarara). Three UNRWA installations are located in the affected area.

o On 14 June, the Israeli Forces issued a displacement order impacting Rafah, Khan Younis and Maghazi. Ninety-five UNRWA installations are located in the affected area.

o On 14 June, the Israeli Forces issued a displacement order impacting Khan Younis. Twenty-one UNRWA installations are located in the affected area.

o On 12 June, the Israeli Forces issued a displacement order impacting areas of north Gaza and Gaza City. Eight UNRWA installations are located in the affected area.

o On 12 June, the Israeli Forces issued a displacement order impacting of Khan Younis. Twenty-one UNRWA installations are located in the affected area.

• At least 182 UNRWA installations – or over half of all UNRWA installations in the Gaza Strip – are located within the Israeli-militarized zone, under displacement orders, or where these overlap.

• Despite the lack of aid allowed into Gaza and existing challenges, UNRWA continues providing services to communities overwhelmed by over 20 months of bombardment, forced displacement, and lack of critical resources. However, the resumed bombardment and the 11-week-long siege, which completely banned entry of any basic supplies from UNRWA since 2 March, have further worsened an already dire situation, severely hindering humanitarian actors’ ability to respond to the population’s need for food, water, sanitation, shelter and more.

• According to the UN, at least 1.9 million people – or about 90 per cent of the population – across the Gaza Strip have been displaced during the war. Many have been displaced repeatedly, some 10 times or more. Since the recent displacement orders were issued, more people have been forced to flee in search of safety.

• Between 7 October 2023 and 18 June 2025, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, as stated by OCHA, at least 55,637 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza and 129,880 have been injured.

• Since the war began 317 UNRWA team members have been confirmed killed.

• OCHA reported that, of the 100 planned aid movements coordinated with Israeli authorities across Gaza from 11 to 17 June 2025, 51 were denied, 12 were initially accepted but faced impediments, 14 withdrawn, and 23 facilitated. Overall, of the 239 planned aid movements coordinated with Israeli authorities across the Gaza Strip between 1 and 17 June, 123 were denied, 21 impeded, 32 withdrawn, and 63 facilitated.

The occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem

• According to OCHA, between 7 October 2023 and 12 June 2025, 947 Palestinians – among them at least 200 children – were killed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Of those, 141 Palestinians, among them at least 27 children, were killed since the beginning of this year alone.

o Since the escalation between Iran and Israel started on 13 June, missile debris, including from missile interception, have fallen in the West Bank including inside the premises of at least two UNRWA schools and one UNRWA training centre in Ramallah and Qalqiliya, without causing injuries. This occurred during the final week of the academic year; consequently, final exams in UNRWA schools took place under strict safety measures for children and with explosive ordinance risk education materials circulated.

o In Sa’ir, Hebron governorate, five Palestinians including two children were reportedly injured by shrapnel from a missile fired from Yemen that landed in the area on 13 June.

o Israeli Forces imposed severe access and movement restrictions on the West Bank starting from 13 June, including the closure of checkpoints and the erection of new barriers preventing people’s movement between areas. This included access restrictions to the Old City in East Jerusalem including Al Aqsa Mosque, where all entry was prohibited for the first time in several years.

o Mass demolitions have continued in the northern West Bank, with bulldozing of residential buildings occurring in Jenin and Tulkarm camps, in execution of mass demolition orders previously issued by Israeli Forces, including those of 1 May (for Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps) and 9 June (for Jenin Camp).

o Settlers’ violence was ongoing despite heightened movement restrictions. On 17 June, Israeli settlers reportedly established a new settlement outpost on Palestinian land south of Sinjil, blocked roads and made property measurements in advance of anticipated further settlement expansion in the South Hebron Hills.

Overall situation

The Gaza Strip

Between 7 October 2023 and 18 June 2025, according to the MoH in Gaza as stated by OCHA, at least 55,637 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in the Gaza Strip while 129,880 have been reported injured.

Humanitarian access, protection of civilians

• UNRWA is working to verify the details of incidents that reportedly impacted UNRWA premises. Further information will be provided once it becomes available*.

• During the reporting period, several armed-conflict-related incidents have reportedly impacted UNRWA installations and/or personnel:

o On 16 June, a Job Creation Programme (JCP) worker was reportedly injured while on duty in UNRWA Khan Younis Training Centre (KYTC) due to Israeli Forces fire in the vicinity of Asda'a and Street 05, Khan Younis. Artillery shrapnel reportedly fell inside the KYTC due to Israeli Forces fire in the area and shell fragments hit the outer wall of an office building at KYTC. Minor damage to the facility was reported. A number of displaced persons, who were reportedly injured outside UNRWA installations due to Israeli Forces shelling, were transferred to an UNRWA health centre and subsequently to hospital.

o On 11 June, a stray bullet (source unconfirmed) reportedly hit the curbstone near a gate in KYTC. No damage to the facility and no casualties among UNRWA personnel were reported.

o [Late report] On 3 June, an UNRWA missing vehicle was found completely burnt in the area of Beach Camp. No further information regarding the incident is available.

As of 17 June 2025, 863* incidents impacting UNRWA premises and the people inside them have been reported since the beginning of the war. 311* UNRWA installations have been impacted by armed conflict-related incidents since the beginning of the war, with some installations impacted multiple times. UNRWA estimates that, in total, at least 809* persons sheltering in UNRWA installations have been killed and at least 2,500* injured since the start of the war. UNRWA continues to verify and update the number of casualties caused by these incidents.

*Since the start of the war in October 2023, the latest casualty figures are continuously under review as UNRWA gains access to locations that were previously inaccessible and as further verifications occur. The summary figures will be published/updated as information becomes available, noting that these numbers are subject to change once verifications are concluded.

UNRWA response, The Gaza Strip

Health

• According to the Health Cluster, UNRWA remains one of the largest health actors operating in the Gaza Strip, contributing to over half of the people reached with health services since 7 October 2023.

• In addition to medical consultations, UNRWA (in partnership with and supported by other UN agencies, including UNICEF and WHO) continued to vaccinate children. Over 290,000 routine vaccines have been given to children since January 2024.

• Since 18 March (when the ceasefire collapsed) and until 15 June, UNRWA health teams provided around 1,032,000 health consultations (or around 14,500 per working day), including over 71,000 maternal consultations including antenatal, post-natal and family planning care, over 37,700 dental and oral health consultations in fixed and mobile clinics, and around 24,600 physiotherapy rehabilitation services sessions. Between 7 October 2023 and 15 June 2025, UNRWA provided over 8.9 million medical consultations across the Gaza Strip.

• As of 15 June, only five out of 22 UNRWA health centres and two additional UNRWA-rented facilities used as temporary health centres were operational in Gaza. In addition, health services are provided through 125 mobile medical teams working in 25 medical points inside and outside shelters in the middle area, Khan Younis, Al Mawasi, Gaza City and north Gaza. UNRWA health facilities provide primary health care, including outpatient services, non-communicable disease care, medications, vaccination for children, antenatal and postnatal health care, laboratory and dental services, physiotherapy and dressings for the injured. The number of operational health facilities changes constantly based on demand, access and security.

• Between 9 and 15 June, an average of around 1,133 UNRWA health personnel per day worked in UNRWA health centres, temporary clinics and medical points across the Gaza Strip, providing 81,169 health consultations (or around 13,500 per working day).

• UNRWA continued to provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services in Gaza City, the middle and Khan Younis areas, with teams of psychiatrists, psychosocial counsellors and supervisors to assist special cases referred from UNRWA health centres and shelters. Between 9 and 15 June, UNRWA teams responded to 2,705 cases in health centres and at medical points through individual consultations, awareness sessions and to address cases of gender-based violence (GBV).  

• Between 9 and 15 June, UNRWA medical teams provided 6,783 consultations for post-natal and pregnant women at high risk, 2,735 dental and oral health consultations in fixed and mobile clinics, and 2,065 physiotherapy rehabilitation services sessions in health centres and medical points.

• Nutritional assessments are being conducted in health centers and medical points reaching children from six to 59 months of age. Between 1 and 15 June, screenings were conducted on 5,229 children.

• Medical services are critically under-resourced, with nearly half of essential supplies already out of stock, and over one fifth (21 per cent) projected to run out in under two months. The affected supplies include medicine for non-communicable diseases, antimicrobials and antiparasitic products, dermatological and eyes preparations, analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications, gastrointestinal products, respiratory medications, and family planning methods.

Psychosocial Support and Learning

• Since the onset of the war, UNRWA has been providing psychosocial support services (PSS) and learning services in Gaza in Temporary Learning Spaces (TLSs) and through its distance learning initiative.

• To date, more than 56,000 children — over 55 per cent of them girls— have benefitted from learning and recreational activities delivered in up to 450 TLSs established across 59 UNRWA schools-turned-shelters. Between 9 and 15 June 2025, a total of 26,546 children (14,937 boys, 11,609 girls, including 104 children with disabilities) benefited from TLS-based learning activities in 260 active TLSs. UNRWA has also leveraged digital tools to provide basic literacy and numeracy education to 294,621 Palestine Refugee children (152,945 boys, 141,676 girls) in Gaza, facilitated by thousands of teachers. Ongoing and reoccurring telecommunications cuts makes digital learning a challenge.  

• UNRWA remains one of the largest providers of emergency learning and PSS across the Gaza Strip. With the support of 236 school counsellors and over 300 assistant counsellors, since the start of the war UNRWA has conducted 305,279 critical PSS sessions for approximately 730,000 displaced persons, including more than 520,000 children. Between 9 and 15 June 2025, a total of 8,590 people accessed these essential services.

• Between 7 October 2023 and 15 June 2025, UNRWA’s social work team provided services to 224,841 displaced people, including psychological first aid, PSS services, family and individual activities, as well as case management. During the same reporting period, protection services were provided to 2,562 survivors of GBV and 4,040 children, including 1,869 unaccompanied children. The team also supported 25,543 persons with disabilities with PSS; 8,500 of these individuals received assistive devices and rehabilitation services. Awareness sessions on GBV, child protection, disability and special needs, as well as managing social and psychological stressors, were conducted for 171,839 displaced people.

Food Security

• Since 7 October 2023 and until the start of the ceasefire (19 January 2025), over 388,000 families (nearly 1.9 million people) have been reached with two rounds of flour; at least 374,000 of those families have received three rounds.

• Up until the start of the ceasefire, UNRWA reached at least 1.7 million people with food parcels. Of those, at least 215,000 people received two rounds of food parcels since the war started. These include[3] rice, lentils, beans, oil, salt, sugar, milk powder, hummus, halawa, yeast, and canned fish, and are designed to meet the needs of a family of five for two weeks.

• In addition to the distribution of UNRWA food parcels, the Agency has distributed food parcels on behalf of other UN organisations, having reached over 1.4 million people before the start of the ceasefire.

• During the ceasefire, UNRWA reached over 2 million people with critical food assistance. However, due to the 11-week-long siege imposed by the Israeli authorities between 2 March and 18 May, UNRWA ran out of flour and food parcels several weeks ago and was therefore forced to halt food distributions.

• Between 1 March and 19 April 2025, UNRWA distributed nearly 270,000 bags of flour, reaching an estimated 88,000 families – or over 700,000 people. Since the ceasefire collapsed and until 8 April, only around 15,500 families (or an estimated 77,500 people) have received UNRWA food parcels. UNRWA ran out of food supplies and has been banned to bring in any food or other basics including medicine since 2 March 2025.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

• Since October 2023, UNRWA has carried out emergency WASH activities across the Gaza Strip. The main activities include operating and maintaining water wells and desalination systems and supplying water with water trucks and bottled water. In addition, UNRWA continues to maintain hygiene in UNRWA shelters and sites through cleaning supplies, community-based solid waste management and pest control.

• UNRWA water provision and solid waste collection translates into assistance for up to around 600,000 people monthly.

• Between 1 and 15 June, UNRWA teams provided around 26,500 cubic metres of domestic and potable water reaching  around 88,000 people. UNRWA was forced to stop providing services in North Gaza for around 25,000 displaced people in designated emergency shelters  due to displacement orders issued by Israeli Forces.

• UNRWA continues to provide solid waste collection and transfer services wherever possible. Between 1 and 15 June, UNRWA teams collected around 1,200 tons of solid waste  and transferred to  temporary dumping sites. UNRWA teams cleaned 73 manholes, serving over 80,000 displaced people in different locations across the Gaza Strip, despite the shortage of personal protection equipment and maintenance tools.

• During the same reporting period, the team conducted 375 hygiene awareness sessions reaching  around 80,000 people, and 200 cleaning campaigns in different locations reaching around 45,000 people.